FACULTY IN THE MEDIA

• What does the Church really say about Artificial Intelligence? Two beloved professors, Dr. Lendmen and Dr. Martinez break down Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas. While many expected a technical document on AI, the Holy Father delivers something much deeper: a profound teaching on theological anthropology, the study of what it means to be human in the light of God's revelation.
• On Catholic Connections with Teresa TomeoDr. Gabriel Martinez from Ave Maria University comments on Magnifica Humanitas and his free online "Pursuit of Wisdom" course.https://ondemand.ewtn.com/Home/Play/en/~CB20260526
• On All Good Things with Archbishop Hicks, Dr. Martinez discusses his take on Economics and Catholicism in light of ST. Thomas Aquinas teaching on private property. Both fields talk about human beings. WE talk about economics and how people making decisions and the context in which they make those decisions. Main problem is separation of faith and life
• Dr. Lendmen reflects on Magnifica Humanity's and the expectation that it would address AI; however, Dr. Lendmen points out that it concerns more correctly Theological Anthropology: study of what it is to be man in light of revelation. This document sets fundamental principals on how to evaluate the use of AI

At Ave Maria University, our faculty continue to make important contributions to the national conversation on faith, reason, and the critical issues of our time. Recently, two beloved professors, Dr. Gabriel Martinez and Dr. Lendmen, have stepped into the media spotlight to help Catholics understand Pope Leo XIV's inaugural encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, and what it truly teaches about artificial intelligence and human dignity.

When many anticipated a technical document focused on AI itself, the Holy Father delivered something far more profound: a masterwork of theological anthropology that explores what it means to be human in light of God's revelation. Dr. Martinez and Dr. Lendmen have been instrumental in helping the broader Catholic community grasp this deeper message. Dr. Martinez recently appeared on Catholic Connections with Teresa Tomeo to discuss the encyclical and his free online "Pursuit of Wisdom" course, while Dr. Lendmen has emphasized that Magnifica Humanitas establishes the fundamental principles by which we must evaluate artificial intelligence's role in our lives.

In another engaging appearance, Dr. Martinez sat down with Archbishop Hicks on All Good Things to explore the intersection of economics and Catholicism through the lens of Saint Thomas Aquinas's teachings on private property. Dr. Martinez articulated a vital insight: both economics and theology fundamentally concern the human person and the decisions people make within their particular contexts. He identified a critical challenge facing modern society, the troubling separation of faith from daily life, and demonstrated how Catholic teaching offers wisdom for bridging that gap.

These media appearances reflect the very mission of Ave Maria University: to integrate faith and reason in service of truth and human flourishing. Our alumni can take pride in the fact that our faculty are not simply teaching in the classroom but actively engaged in forming the Catholic conscience and helping families understand how their faith speaks to the most pressing questions of our age.