In 1965, a quiet revolution echoed through cathedrals and parish halls around the world. The Second Vatican Council, a historic meeting of the Catholic Church, concluded with one of its most profound changes: Church teachings, prayers, and rituals would no longer be spoken exclusively in Latin. For the first time in centuries, ordinary people could hear the mass and understand it in their native languages. This shift wasn't just about language; it was about access, empowerment, and inclusion.

Fast forward to today, and another revolution is taking place—this time in the realm of governance, law, and democracy. For generations, constitutions have been treated with the same reverence as sacred texts. But like Latin masses, they’ve often remained inaccessible to the very people they were meant to serve. Written in legal jargon and buried under layers of historical context, constitutional documents can feel alienating to ordinary citizens. But now, Artificial Intelligence is changing that.

Just as Vatican II opened the doors of the Church to its faithful, AI is opening the halls of governance to the public. Tools like ChatGPT and other large language models can break down complex legal language, summarize constitutional provisions, and explain the meaning of amendments in plain terms. With just a few keystrokes, anyone can now ask, “What does my constitution say about free speech?” or “How does our electoral system work?” and get a clear, understandable answer.

Think of it as a kind of civic catechism. After Vatican II, Catholics were given new tools to understand and live out their faith more deeply. Now, through AI, citizens are gaining new tools to understand their rights, responsibilities, and the foundations of their nation. This matters, because democracy depends on an informed public. When people understand their constitution, they are better equipped to hold leaders accountable, participate in policy debates, and vote with confidence.

Of course, like any powerful tool, AI must be used carefully. Just as the reforms of Vatican II were met with both praise and concern, there are legitimate worries about how AI might misinterpret, oversimplify, or even distort constitutional meanings. Responsible use, transparency, and public oversight are essential. But the potential is enormous.

In both the Church and the State, the movement toward accessibility reflects a deeper truth: people have a right to understand the structures that guide their lives. Whether it's divine law or constitutional law, knowledge shouldn't be locked behind specialist knowledge or ancient language. When understanding is unlocked, people don't just become observers—they become participants.

What Vatican II did for the faithful, AI is now beginning to do for the citizen. And that is a revolution worth paying attention to.