Pope Leo XIV is urging Catholics and educators around the world to approach artificial intelligence not with fear, but with wisdom rooted in the Gospel and respect for the dignity of the human person.
Speaking Friday to participants at the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence at the Vatican, the Holy Father emphasized that technology must remain at the service of humanity and never replace authentic human relationships. According to Vatican News, the conference focused on the theme “Preserving human faces and voices” and gathered experts in AI, theology, education, and communications.
Addressing attendees, Pope Leo reflected on the Church’s mission to proclaim salvation to all people while responsibly engaging with modern technology. Citing the Second Vatican Council’s teaching on the media, the Pope said the Church must use every available means to spread the Gospel while ensuring digital tools are directed toward the common good.
“This desire for everyone ‘to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth’,” Pope Leo said, “must therefore inform not only our decisions and actions, but also the use and direction given to media, digital technology, and artificial intelligence, in order to ensure that these tools be placed at the authentic service of humanity,” according to Vatican News.
The Pope warned that unchecked technological development can damage human dignity when it exploits people’s longing for connection and meaning. Rather than allowing technology to shape humanity in unhealthy ways, he said the Church must help people rediscover their God-given identity.
“The challenge facing humanity,” Pope Leo explained, “is not technological but anthropological,” pointing to deeper questions about what it means to be human.
The Holy Father stressed that true self-understanding can only be found in Jesus Christ. By looking to Christ, the Incarnate Word, humanity better understands itself and its purpose.
Pope Leo also highlighted the urgent need for media and AI literacy, especially among young people. He encouraged Catholic leaders and educators to help children and teens think critically about the digital world while practicing moderation and discipline in their use of technology.
“Young people in particular are open to this truth and desirous of discovering life’s meaning,” the Pope said. “We must therefore help them to encounter the living Christ and teach them to integrate the use of technology within a holistic Christian lifestyle,” according to Vatican News.
Concluding his remarks, Pope Leo expressed hope that humanity can regain confidence in technology when it is used in harmony with God’s design for creation.
“It is my hope,” he said, “that these reflections lead to a restored trust in technology as a fruit of the genius of the human person in harmony with God’s creative design.”
As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms daily life, Pope Leo XIV’s message places the Church firmly in the conversation — not merely to regulate technology, but to ensure it serves truth, human dignity, and ultimately leads souls closer to Christ.
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