Pope Paul VI Coronation Stamps
Scott 365 & 368 (1963)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been in the news lately. There have been many stories of the wonderful things AI programs can do. While I am very excited about the conversational quality one can have with AI programs, I do have very serious concerns about the quality of some of the facts these programs produce. Here is my example.
I recently asked ChatGPT, a leading AI conversational program to produce a trivia question with four possible answers that ask when was the last time a Pope wore the papal tiara. The answer of course is November 13th, 1964. I also asked for a three-paragraph reason why the answer is correct and to list several interesting facts about the papal tiara. This was the answer:
Trivia question: When was the last time a Pope wore the papal tiara?
a) 1878
b) 1922
c) 1950
d) 1964
Correct answer: d) 1964
On November 13, 1964, Pope Paul VI made the historic decision to renounce the use of the papal tiara during his coronation. This decision marked a significant shift in the Catholic Church's practices and beliefs. The decision was made to symbolize the Pope's commitment to a simpler, more humble church that was closer to the people.
The papal tiara, also known as the triregnum, is a three-tiered crown that symbolizes the Pope's authority as the Bishop of Rome, the Vicar of Christ, and the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. The tiara was traditionally worn during the Pope's coronation, and it was also worn during other significant ceremonies, such as the blessing of the faithful on Christmas and Easter. The tiara is made of gold and is adorned with precious stones, including diamonds, rubies, and sapphires.
Interestingly, the papal tiara has a rich history dating back to the eighth century. The tiara was originally a symbol of the Byzantine Empire and was worn by the emperor during his coronation. Over time, the tiara was adopted by the Popes as a symbol of their authority. In the 16th century, the tiara was modified to its current three-tiered design. The last tiara was made in 1877 for Pope Pius IX, and it weighed 18 pounds and had 19,000 precious stones. Today, the tiara is displayed in the Vatican Museums, and it serves as a reminder of the rich history and traditions of the Catholic Church.
It did not take long to quickly figure out that ChatGPT got some of the request correct and some of it was very, very wrong! Here is my response, followed by the ChatGPT response:
Me: Your information about the last tiara made is incorrect. The last tiara made for a papal coronation was for Pope Paul VI. Later Popes have been given tiaras but have not worn them.
ChatGPT: Thank you for bringing this to my attention. You are correct that the last papal tiara made was for Pope Paul VI, and he chose not to wear it during his coronation in 1963. Later popes have also been given tiaras as gifts, but they have chosen not to wear them. The tiara is now considered to be an outdated symbol of the Papacy and is not used in modern times. Thank you for helping me to provide accurate information.
Well, even the last response ChatGPT made is wrong. Readers of the VPS website know that Pope Paul VI did wear the papal tiara during his coronation service. I have noticed that the more one challenges ChatGPT answers, the more incorrect the responses become. Bottom line: fact check and question all answers received from AI programs. Eventually, the AI program informational quality will improve, until then fact check and question .
Good reason to keep reading the VPS website. So far our information accuracy has been pretty darn good!
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