Pope Leo XIV has positioned the Catholic Church to confront what he sees as one of humanity's most pressing challenges: the ethical implications of artificial intelligence.
In his first formal address to the College of Cardinals on May 10, the newly elected pontiff explicitly compared today's AI revolution to the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century. "In our own day, the church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor," the 69-year-old American pope stated.
The pope's choice of papal name now appears deeply symbolic. Leo XIII, who led the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903, authored the groundbreaking encyclical Rerum Novarum ("Of New Things") in 1891, which established the foundation for modern Catholic social teaching by addressing workers' rights during the first Industrial Revolution. By invoking this legacy, Leo XIV signals his intention to develop a similar moral framework for the AI era.
Robert Francis Prevost, who became the first American pope on May 8, brings unique perspective to this challenge. Before his elevation to cardinal, he spent years as a missionary in Peru working with marginalized communities, giving him firsthand experience with economic inequality. As Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis, he demonstrated commitment to social justice issues.
The Vatican's focus on AI isn't entirely new. Pope Francis had increasingly warned about AI's potential threats to humanity, calling for international regulation and emphasizing that powerful technology risks reducing human relationships to algorithms. Leo XIV's address suggests he will continue and potentially expand this focus.
This papal stance represents a significant development in the global conversation about AI ethics, as it comes from one of the world's most influential non-technical institutions. With 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, the Church's moral guidance on technology could influence policy discussions far beyond religious circles, potentially shaping how societies approach AI regulation and development in the coming years.