Just two days into his papacy, Pope Leo XIV has made the ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence a defining issue of his reign. Speaking to a gathering of cardinals in Vatican City, the new pope emphasized the urgent need for the Catholic Church to respond to AI’s growing influence and its potential to undermine human dignity. In a symbolic gesture, he explained that he chose the name “Leo” in honor of Pope Leo XIII, who advocated for workers’ rights during the Industrial Revolution.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, drew a clear historical parallel between the rise of industrial power in the Gilded Age and the current AI revolution. He likened today’s tech leaders to the industrial barons of the 19th century, warning that rapid technological advances could deepen inequality and erode core human values if left unchecked.
While specific policies or Church directives have not yet been announced, the pope’s early statements indicate a commitment to guiding the Church’s moral stance on AI and encouraging global dialogue about its consequences. His comments come at a time when world governments, tech companies, and civil society are grappling with how to regulate and responsibly develop artificial intelligence.
Silicon Valley, which sees the Vatican as an influential moral authority, is reportedly already attempting to shape the conversation and win over the pontiff’s perspective. The response from the tech world is expected to be a mix of concern and outreach, as developers look to frame their innovations as ethically sound and socially beneficial.
By placing AI at the center of his papacy from the outset, Pope Leo XIV signals that the Catholic Church intends to engage directly with one of the most transformative technologies of the modern age. His approach aims to balance the promise of innovation with the Church’s longstanding mission to uphold human dignity, social justice, and the common good.
