Alessio Pecorario

Alessio Pecorario, born on April 11th 1980, married, with two children is a Vatican Official, cybersecurity and new technologies expert. Alessio’s passions and skills are at the service of human dignity and the planet, with integral human development in the digital age as a foundation. As a PhD in constitutional comparative law, he has over 15 years of experience developed in sensitive roles in European and Vatican Institutions, including the coordination of the Security Task Force, within the Vatican Covid-19 Commission (VCC). Dr. Pecorario had the privilege to operate in institutional contexts that have given him the opportunity to approach the source of the most ancient knowledge and, at the same time, to confront himself with the emerging contexts of contemporary technology. Alessio Pecorario’s field of expertise is very rich and diversified, covering several domains of political science, with a specific focus on new technologies and internationally related security issues (especially cyber). He has a long list of presences on the media (TV, radio, social, etc.), and scientific publications, including “a cyber commons for humankind”, together with Prof. Chuck Brooks, named “Top Tech Person To Follow” by LinkedIn, voted “Cybersecurity Person of the Year”, cited Top 10 Global Tech & Cyber Expert & Influencer, Georgetown University Professor. This publication is conceptually connected with the one He did on “The Culture of Encounter and the Governance of Technology” for Georgetown University and La Civilità Cattolica, and for the first time in history, introduces the idea of the establishment of a Vatican Cyber Authority. And, for his work, Alessio has always had to travel on external missions in the four corners of the earth for his various Offices, attending many conferences, meetings, summits and the like. He speaks Italian, English, French and Spanish, and He can read Arabic. Besides, in all his activities, Dr. Pecorario tries to foster a proper ecumenical, interreligious and intercultural approach, in collaboration with numerous partners from other faith traditions and secular contexts, by building on a webinar called “Advancing integral disarmament in times of pandemic”, he organized on March 23rd 2021. On that occasion, in collaboration with the Strategic Concept for the Removal of Arms and Proliferation of the SOAS University in London, many departments of the Roman Curia (5 among the most prominent Cardinals of the Roman Curia spoke at that event), and other prominent international partners reflections and solutions were offered on the efforts to promote an integral approach to security for a long-lasting prosperity and peace.  However, among the vast and complex list of processes that Alessio coordinates, the one called “The common good in the digital age”, which encompasses many experts from all sectors on cybersecurity, blockchain, AI and many other new technologies, is the most relevant at present. The aim of it is to foster a dialogue between ethics and science, made in collaboration with some of the main actors on new tech, ranging from Silicon Valley to China, from the Middle East to African countries, and more. After a major event in September 2019,  Dr. Pecorario was entrusted to advance that process at the DPIHD and at the VCC, which culminated with another international conference, called “Promoting Integral Human Development in Times of Pandemic: New Technologies in the Post-COVID World”, on December 9th2021. These events were a unique opportunity for experts interested in collaborating with the Holy See on the intersection of technologies and integral human development to become acquainted with the Vatican entities and each other, with a view towards establishing a network of experts and begin further processes regarding new technologies across the Church. Connected to his expertise on new technologies, it might be useful to highlight that Alessio has performed two International Visitor Leadership Programs (IVLP), named “Promoting Cybersecurity II, A Multi-Regional Project”, which took place in the US, from September 10th to October 1st, 2022. The program included five destinations: Washington (D.C.), Austin (Texas), San Antonio (Texas), Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) and New York (New York). The IVLP is the U.S. Department of State’s (DoS) premier professional exchange program. Through short-term visits to the United States, current and emerging foreign leaders in a variety of fields experience the country firsthand and cultivate lasting relationships with their American counterparts. Over 500 current and former Heads of Government and State and many other distinguished world leaders in the public and private sectors have participated in the IVLP. Participants can only be indicated by the US Embassies to the world and selected by the US Department of State. Alessio is part of Astana Club the Minerva Dialogues, an assembly that brings together experts from the world of technology – scientists, engineers, business leaders, lawyers and philosophers – of the Silicon Valley and representatives of the Church – curial officials, theologians and ethicists – with the aim of studying and fostering greater awareness of the social and cultural impact of digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence. Last but not least, Alessio is developing institutional relationships in the field of the space economy. In fact, He is the coordinator the Vatican conference called “The seed of hope”, on meaning and destinies of the space economy. With some of the most prominent world experts and stakeholders it’s being debated the emerging digital and sociopolitical challenges related to the impact of new technologies in the domain of the space economy.