As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the world of medicine, Pope Leo XIV is urging healthcare professionals to ensure that new technologies never replace the human touch that lies at the heart of care.
In a message sent to participants of the Vatican’s international congress on “AI and Medicine: The Challenge of Human Dignity,” the Holy Father cautioned that while AI can improve the efficiency and precision of modern medicine, it must always serve humanity — not diminish it. The conference, organized by the Pontifical Academy for Life, runs from November 10–12.
“We currently interact with machines as if they were interlocutors, and thus become almost an extension of them,” the Pope said, according to Vatican News. “In this sense, we not only run the risk of losing sight of the faces of the people around us, but of forgetting how to recognize and cherish all that is truly human.”
Pope Leo acknowledged that technology has brought undeniable benefits to medicine, from diagnostics to patient care, but reminded the faithful that true progress is rooted in upholding “human dignity and the common good.”
He warned that the same tools that can heal can also harm when used without moral grounding. According to Vatican News, the Pope emphasized that AI can be “transformative and beneficial if placed at the true service of the human person,” but dangerous when driven by profit or control.
Addressing medical professionals, Pope Leo called them to their sacred vocation as “guardians and servants of human life,” underscoring that their work reveals both the fragility and the inherent worth of every person. “We must never forget the ontological dignity that belongs to the person as such simply because he or she exists and is willed, created, and loved by God,” he said.
The Pope also underscored that technology can never substitute for empathy, communication, and presence. “Healthcare cannot be reduced to solving a problem,” he said, noting that “technological devices must never take away from the patient-carer relationship.”
“If AI is to serve human dignity and the effective provision of healthcare,” the Pope added, “we must ensure that it truly enhances both interpersonal relationships and the care provided.”
Pope Leo concluded with a warning about the “vast economic interests” that often dominate the fields of medicine and technology. He called for global collaboration between politics and healthcare to ensure that AI development remains focused on ethical, human-centered outcomes.
The Pontifical Academy for Life’s ongoing dialogue reflects the Church’s growing engagement with questions of technology and morality, reminding all that even the most advanced machine must never overshadow the divine image imprinted in every human being.
Your support brings the truth to the world.
Catholic Online News exists because of donors like you. We are 100% funded by people who believe the world deserves real, uncensored news rooted in faith and truth — not corporate agendas. Your gift ensures millions can continue to access the news they can trust — stories that defend life, faith, family, and freedom.
When truth is silenced, your support speaks louder.
