J3) The Use of AI-Based Eye Trackers in Catholic Sanctuaries: A Possible Contribution to the Study of Pilgrimage Experiences

The advent of AI has opened new avenues of research, one of which is the recent study of human gaze in Catholic churches and shrines (Ruozzi, Papasidero 2024). As part of the activities carried out within the PNRR ITSERR project (www.itserr.it), this paper aims to present the results of research conducted thus far in four sanctuaries in northern Italy: the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Bismantova in the Diocese of Reggio Emilia; the Sanctuary of Sts Pellegrino e Bianco in Alpe in the Diocese of Lucca; the Sanctuary of St Maria della Vita; and the Church of Sts Vitale and Agricola in Bologna. Over the past few months, two groups of visitors have been guided through these sites while wearing eye-tracking devices (AI-based and provided by Meta) that monitor both the wearer’s gaze and their position in space. The focus groups consisted of men and women of varying ages, divided into practising Catholics and atheists/non-practising Catholics. The data collected facilitate the study of the relationship between this qualitative sample of users (20 in total) and both the spatial organisation of the buildings and the devotional elements present, such as images of the Virgin Mary and relics of saints. The findings also provide a foundation for reflections on pilgrimage and tourism studies. Although our participants were not pilgrims (despite the visits to the first two sanctuaries being linked to a ˜mountain hike’), much of the data collected could open up new directions for further research involving pilgrims directly along their journey. The use of eye-tracking technology in this context could also offer valuable insights for comparing contemporary pilgrimage experiences with the rituals, gestures, movements, and behaviours described in historical sources.