The Flemish Catholic youth organisation Kamino has launched a Catholic chatbot designed to answer questions about faith and the role of the Catholic Church, marking what it describes as a world first.
Kamino aims to engage with young people online, noting a 2023 international study by Digital Youth Faith Formation showing that youth often turn to the internet for answers about faith and life. The organisation warns that radical groups tend to interpret Christian teachings in extreme ways online.
“The problem is that radical opinions about Christianity far outnumber nuanced perspectives online today,” said Kamino’s director, Sofi Van Ussel. “Moreover, algorithms on platforms like TikTok or YouTube can draw you into a one-sided view.”
While the chatbot offers responses from a Christian perspective, Kamino’s goal is to support all young people on their spiritual journeys, not just Catholics. Users are free to choose the topics they wish to discuss, and the AI has been trained to remain neutral on sensitive issues such as sexuality and abortion. It also frequently directs users to professional help, theologians, or priests for further guidance.
This “Catholic ChatGPT” was developed by a team of AI experts, priests, and theologians using Catholic faith sources, biblical stories, and official Church texts. Currently available only in Dutch, Kamino plans to expand to other languages in the future.
