Rev. Ricky Manalo, CSP, Ph.D. is a Paulist priest, theologian, liturgical composer, and pastoral scholar whose work bridges worship, intercultural ministry, and contemporary ethical challenges, including polarization and artificial intelligence. Born in Brooklyn and raised in New Jersey, he studied composition and piano at the Manhattan School of Music, theology at the Washington Theological Union, and earned a doctorate in Liturgical Studies with allied fields in sociology and cultural studies from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA.

Fr. Manalo’s music and scholarship have shaped Catholic worship and intercultural liturgical expression worldwide, and his compositions have been featured in multiple Papal Masses. He serves as a theological consultor to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and has authored award-winning books and pioneering courses in liturgy and culture.

He is the Co-Chair of The Communion Project, a national initiative founded by the Paulist Fathers that accompanies Church leaders and parishes in responding pastorally to polarization (https://paulist.org/communion/). In recent years, Fr. Manalo has emerged as a leading voice on the intersection of faith and artificial intelligence, exploring how AI can be engaged ethically within ministry and evangelization. He was invited to the first Builders AI Forum in 2024 (https://www.baif.ai) at the Vatican, where he presented on The Prophetic Contributions of the Catholic Church to the Global AI Conversation.

Speaking Topics

The Prophetic Role of the Church in AI Ethics

Faith Meets AI: Embracing the New Frontier in Catholic Ministry

AI and Liturgy: Eight Exploratory Trajectories

Preaching in a Time of Generative AI

AI for Pastors: Promise, Prudence, and Pastoral Practice

Faithful Presence: Formation for Priestly Life in the Age of AI

AI and the Future of Catholic Faith Formation and Education