Pope Leo XIV is calling for renewed attention to the digital safety of children and adolescents as artificial intelligence increasingly shapes the choices, experiences, and relationships of young people. Addressing participants of The Dignity of Children and Adolescents in the Age of Artificial Intelligence conference, the Holy Father warned that minors “are particularly vulnerable to manipulation through AI algorithms that can influence their decisions and preferences,” according to Vatican News.
The Pope noted that AI is transforming daily life—from entertainment to education—and now demands serious ethical reflection. These transformations, he said, “raise important ethical questions, especially concerning the protection of the dignity and wellbeing of minors.” He encouraged parents and educators to stay engaged, aware, and proactive, so that children do not navigate the digital world without guidance or protection.
Pope Leo stressed that the responsibility extends beyond families. “Governments and international organizations have a responsibility to design and implement policies that protect the dignity of minors in this era of AI,” he said, urging updated data protection laws and strong ethical standards for developers, according to Vatican News.
However, the Pope insisted that no policy alone can safeguard the young. “Safeguarding the dignity of minors cannot be reduced to policies alone; it also requires a digital education,” he stated. Citing Pope Francis’ call for adults to be “artisans of education,” Pope Leo urged continuous formation for both children and adults who accompany them.
This emphasis on digital literacy resonates strongly with Catholic-led educational initiatives that seek to equip the next generation for an AI-driven world. Programs such as Technology Institute offer a practical response to the Pope’s concerns by teaching families how to engage technology ethically and intelligently. The institute’s mission is “to provide a free, world-class AI education to anyone, anywhere,” ensuring that understanding artificial intelligence does not depend on income or geography.
Through age-appropriate programs—AI Explorers for children as young as six and AI Builders for teens and adults—Technology Institute helps students understand how computers “think,” how algorithms work, and how AI learns. Children build simple chatbots, games, and digital projects, empowering them to engage technology creatively rather than be shaped passively by it. For older learners, advanced tracks offer Python, machine learning, and real-world AI development, always grounded in the institute’s commitment to a “moral foundation — technology with conscience.”
This kind of formation mirrors the Pope’s appeal for educational communities equipped to guide the vulnerable. “What is needed,” he said, “are daily, ongoing educational efforts, carried out by adults who themselves are trained and supported by networks of collaboration,” according to Vatican News. Such efforts help young people understand the risks of unlimited or unsupervised digital access and encourage responsible decision-making in online environments.
The Pope described this work as “a vital exercise in safeguarding human originality and connectedness,” insisting that it must always uphold human dignity. Only with ethical formation and responsible guidance, he said, can artificial intelligence become “an ally, and not a threat, in the growth and development of children and adolescents.”
Pope Leo concluded by expressing hope that the conference would lay “a solid foundation” for the Church’s ongoing mission to protect and uplift children, families, and society. He entrusted this work to God’s blessing and encouraged all communities to take an active role in ensuring technology serves humanity—and never the other way around.
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