Abstract
This presentation examines the legal implications arising from the interaction of the faithful with SanTO (Sanctified Theomorphic Operator), a robot designed to assist with prayer according to the Catholic faith. SanTO is a small, hybrid device produced through 3D printing, whose appearance is inspired by figures from the sacred tradition of religious art. In order to respond to the requests submitted to it, SanTO has a dual operational mode: depending on the circumstances or the nature of the questions posed, it can either draw answers from its local database or rely on machine learning. The robot is centered on Catholic doctrine and may be employed in various contexts: from guiding prayer and suggesting devotional texts, to teaching catechism, quoting biblical passages and the Gospels, recounting the lives of saints or papal homilies, and engaging in other religious activities. The aim of this contribution is to examine, from a legal perspective, the relationship between machine learning and canon law in the functioning of SanTO, as well as the potential issues that may arise. Indeed, canon law plays a central role in this analysis, as it defines the proper methods for disseminating the evangelical message within the autonomous legal order of the Catholic Church.