VATICAN CITY (AP) —
Pope Leo XIV
he outlined the vision for his pontificate on Saturday, defining
artificial intelligence
As one of the biggest issues confronting mankind and pledging to carry forward several key objectives set forth by Pope Francis.
During his initial official meeting, Leo frequently referenced
Francis
and the Argentine pope’s own
2013 mission statement
, clearly demonstrating a dedication to making the Catholic Church more inclusive, responsive to the needs of its congregation, and focused on supporting the “marginalized and cast aside.”
Leo, the inaugural U.S. pontiff, informed the cardinals who chose him that he wholeheartedly supported the changes initiated during the Second Vatican Council—the gatherings from the 1960s aimed at updating the Church. He pinpointed artificial intelligence as a key issue for mankind, noting that it presents difficulties in safeguarding human dignity, fairness, and employment.
Leo referred to AI in explaining the choice of his name: His namesake,
Pope Leo XIII
He served as Pope from 1878 until 1903 and established the groundwork for contemporary Catholic social doctrine. His most notable contribution came through the issuance of the 1891 encyclical titled “Rerum Novarum,” where he tackled issues related to laborers’ rights and capitalist practices during the onset of the Industrial Revolution. This late pontiff condemned both unregulated capitalism and government-dominated socialism, thereby defining a uniquely Catholic perspective within economics.
During his comments on Saturday, Leo mentioned that he related to his predecessor, who tackled the significant social issue raised by the Industrial Revolution in the encyclical.
“In today’s world, the church presents the wealth of its social teachings as an answer to yet another industrial revolution and advancements in artificial intelligence that present fresh challenges for protecting human dignity, justice, and work,” he stated.
Towards the latter part of his papacy, Francis grew more outspoken regarding the dangersAI poses to humankind and advocated for an international agreement to oversee its development.
He warned that such powerful technology risks turning human relations into mere algorithms. Francis brought his message to the
Group of Seven
When addressing their summit last year, he emphasized that industrialized nations should ensure AI remains human-centered, stressing that choices regarding weapon deployment or even non-lethal equipment usage should consistently be made by people rather than automated systems.
The former Argentine pontiff similarly utilized his 2024 yearly peace address for this purpose.
request an international agreement to guarantee responsible AI development
Is created and employed responsibly, contending that a technology devoid of human virtues such as empathy, kindness, ethical standards, and understanding is far too dangerous to be allowed to progress without oversight.
During the address presented in Italian at the Vatican’s synod hall—rather than the Apostolic Palace—Leo frequently alluded to both Francis and the sorrow surrounding the situation.
his death.
At the beginning of his papacy in 2013, when Pope Francis presented his mission statement “The Joy of the Gospel,” he regarded it as personal guidance for himself. This indicates an intention to uphold many of the same goals and values set forth by Pope Francis.
He highlighted Francis’ emphasis on the church’s missionary character and the importance of making its leadership structure more collaborative. He also stressed the necessity of listening closely to what believers convey, particularly through their genuine and broad expressions, such as devotional practices. Referring once again to Pope Francis’ 2013 mission document, Leo underscored the call for the Church to show “compassionate concern” towards those who are marginalized and excluded, and to courageously converse with today’s society.
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