TED Talks are known for bringing well-known individuals from around the world to a stage before an audience to share big ideas about science, technology, and culture. But during this year’s annual TED conference in Vancouver, there was one surprising addition to the schedule who opted to telecommute: Pope Francis.
This was the first time that a reigning Pope has recorded such a speech, and the first time Pope Francis has addressed an international conference. During the prerecorded talk, he spoke to the moral responsibilities of individuals around the world, saying that “each and everyone’s existence is deeply tied to that of others: life is not time merely passing by, life is about interactions.”
The Pope continued, noting that while there are incredible scientific and technological advances happening across the world, we shouldn’t forget the human connections that we have. "How wonderful would it be if the growth of scientific and technological innovation would come along with more equality and social inclusion," he said to the crowd. “How wonderful would it be, while we discover faraway planets, to rediscover the needs of the brothers and sisters orbiting around us.” He continued, warning against companies and organizations that put products ahead of people.
According to Bruno Giussani, TED’s international curator, organizing the talk was a huge undertaking. While Pope Francis is on Twitter and Instagram, many at the Vatican weren’t aware of the series, and it took a number of meetings to arrange the speech, which was recorded in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, Pope Francis’s home in Vatican City. Filmed in April, the talk was then edited and translated by a group of 40 translators. (The talk is currently subtitled in 20 languages.)