As I wrote my article last week on the beauty and wisdom of imperfection, inspired by the Encyclical Letter of Pope Leo XIV, I discovered another theme I wanted to explore this week: attention as an expression of love. In the context of the Encyclical Magnifica Humanitas: On the Custody of the Human Person in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, it was paragraph 114 which captured my attention this time. In it, the Pope mentions how “to care for one another is a fundamental dimension of our humanity… Reading stories to a child, offering company to an elderly person and arranging a home so that it is welcoming are simple gestures often rooted in family life and they train us to recognise others as persons worthy of attention.”
What makes a person worthy of our attention? There may be many answers to this question, but one irrefutable reason has to be love.
The American philosopher and psychologist William James may not be the best thinker to quote in a reflection on unconditional love, but there is an idea in his pragmatism that is relevant here. For James, “experience is what we decide to pay attention to. Only that which we observe becomes reality for us.”
This statement can be analyzed from two diametrically opposed perspectives: that of love and that of surrender to technology.
From the perspective of love, it’s easy to think of examples that illustrate James’ phrase: “only that which we observe becomes reality for us.” It evokes, for example, stories of love at first sight, where two beings look into each other’s eyes and feel the world around them fade away, leaving only the beloved person present. It also evokes the image of a mother feeding her baby, both locked in each other’s gaze, filled with the purest and most infinite love.
But what happens when we extrapolate this statement to the context of the modern world, where gazes are tied to screens, lost in the void of social media, and subjected to the dictates of an algorithm? It’s dystopian. Think of that father or mother crossing the street pushing a stroller, while their baby watches them, absorbed in their phone. Imagine a couple in a restaurant, eating in silence, trapped by the alerts from their devices, despite all the thoughts, concerns and stories they could share with each other. Or consider the boy who longs for the comfort of a friend, but whose worries are never articulated because it’s easier to laugh at a meme or a notification on the screen. These are the small tragedies of our time in which reality and time fade away, replaced by a function programmed, perhaps not even by a human, but by an algorithm or AI itself.
Stepping back to abandon the false refuge of distraction and the complacency of ego, and focusing on the humans around us has become an ethical decision. After all, that ignored world, which seems to fade away when we immerse ourselves in our screens, continues to exist and remains real. Ignoring the realities of that world will have consequences, even if we try to disregard them; eventually, they will turn against us.
This leads me to another reflection from the Encyclical, extracted from paragraph 94, which I consider essential. Pope Leo states:
“The danger of humanity becoming a victim of its own achievements was already clearly recognized by Saint Paul IV, who warned that “the most extraordinary scientific progress, the most astounding technical feats and the most amazing economic growth, unless accompanied by authentic moral and social progress, will in the long run go against man.” For this reason, technological progress — valuable in itself — requires careful discernment of the anthropological vision that guides it and the ends it pursues. If technological development advances without a corresponding ethical and social progress, the result may be an increase in means without a growth in humanity: ‘having more’ without ‘being more.'”
The encyclical also emphasizes the concept of the common good, suggesting that a strong and happy society can only be built when it is inclusive and pursues the well-being of all. Our humanity and common sense cry out for this premise, but unfortunately, we are so distracted, so hypnotized, that we hardly hear the voice of common sense. Furthermore, modern currents of thought, promoted by those who have platforms thanks to their money or their power, not only keep us distracted in the mirage of social media and AI but actively assert that it is foolish and naive to believe in the pursuit of the common good.
Absolute attention, exercised from love, has lost its value in the current world. The art of waiting patiently and sharing moments with one another is now underestimated. We are so confused that we overrate the ability to maximise efficiency and to use virtual tools, which neglect the possibility of offering our full attention to a moment or a task.
We should not overlook the fact that many religious traditions and contemporary movements that aim to heal our wounded wellbeing emphasise the importance of being present. Attention is relational, after all; it connects us to the world around us, and that bond becomes the path to self-realisation. It could be argued that the sacred is not defined only by beliefs but precisely by absolute presence, which is mindfulness. In Christianity, for example, contemplative prayer seeks a silent encounter with the divine; in Buddhism, meditation deepens the connection with oneself and the world; indigenous spiritualities promote rituals that connect with the earth and ancestors; and in Hinduism, yoga facilitates a sacred connection through attention to the movements of the body.
It is also no coincidence that the brightest and most innovative minds in history have been those capable of focusing all their attention on the objects of their curiosity. The genius of Leonardo da Vinci, for example, stemmed from his obsession with observing the world down to the last detail with insatiable curiosity. Shakespeare, for his part, could only capture such a faithful portrayal of the entire spectrum of human virtues and flaws in his vast literary work by attentively observing the men and women around him.
It is worth asking: What value do our technological feats have if we have not yet learned to recognise the beauty of our humanity and the deep satisfaction that comes from navigating this sea of life, especially when we overcome the storms and enjoy the gift of a open pastel coloured sky?
In a world increasingly saturated with distractions, it is crucial to remember that absolute attention, exercised from love, is what truly connects us with others and with our own humanity. True wealth is not measured in technological achievements not money but in our ability to be present and recognise the beauty in human relationships. By prioritising mindfulness, we not only cultivate a sense of community and well-being but also open the door to a more fulfilling life, where every shared moment becomes a testament to love, connection and our human essence.
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