Pope Leo XIII was known for his engagement with the profound social changes of the industrial revolution, especially through his 1891 encyclical, Rerum Novarum.
His successor Pope Leo XIV chose his papal name, in part, because of his desire to address what he has called the next “industrial revolution” — developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) that “pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor.”
Though not yet confirmed by the Vatican, reports have emerged that Pope Leo’s first encyclical of his pontificate may soon be arriving and will likely address the ethical challenges AI poses and the profound consequences it may have for human work, social relations and the dignity of the person.
As the world awaits further guidance on AI from the Holy Father, here’s a summary of some of the most important components of the Church’s response, so far, to the phenomenon of AI.
February 2020: Rome Call for AI Ethics
The Pontifical Academy for Life released the “Rome Call for AI Ethics” in 2020, and several major global tech companies, including Microsoft and Cisco, have since signed on to the pledge. The relatively brief document calls for the ethical use of AI guided by the principles of transparency, inclusion, accountability, impartiality, reliability, and security and privacy. It notes that AI must serve all people without discrimination, avoid exploitation, and help people to develop their own abilities.
“As we design and plan for the society of tomorrow, the use of AI must follow forms of action that are socially oriented, creative, connective, productive, responsible, and capable of having a positive impact on the personal and social life of younger generations,” the pledge says.
January 2025: Antiqua et Nova
The most in-depth guidance the Vatican has provided so far when it comes to artificial intelligence can be found in Antiqua et Nova, (“old and new”), a roughly 30-page document released under Pope Francis in January 2025.
The document contrasts humanity’s relational and truth-seeking nature with modern AI systems, which operate largely through pattern recognition and lack the creative, spiritual and moral dimensions of human thought.
Calling for a strong ethical framework to guide the development and deployment of AI, the document points out several potential pitfalls of AI development and insists that the technology must always respect and promote the intrinsic dignity of every human being. The development of AI should spur us to “a renewed appreciation of all that is human,” it adds.
May 2025: Address to the College of Cardinals
Pope Leo’s first public reference to AI came on his second full day as Pope, in a speech to the College of Cardinals:
“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.”
June 2025: Message to the Second Annual Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and Corporate Governance
In his speech to a conference in Rome, Pope Leo noted that acknowledging and respecting what is uniquely characteristic of the human person, especially the welfare of children, is essential to the discussion of any adequate ethical framework for the governance of AI.
The way forward “entails taking into account the well-being of the human person not only materially, but also intellectually and spiritually; it means safeguarding the inviolable dignity of each human person and respecting the cultural and spiritual riches and diversity of the world’s peoples. Ultimately, the benefits or risks of AI must be evaluated precisely according to this superior ethical criterion,” he said.
June 2025: Address to Participants in the Jubilee of Governments
In an address to political leaders, Pope Leo stressed that “our personal life has greater value than any algorithm, and social relationships require spaces for development that far transcend the limited patterns that any soulless machine can pre-package.”
The pontiff continued: “Our memory, on the other hand, is creative, dynamic, generative, capable of uniting past, present and future in a lively and fruitful search for meaning, with all the ethical and existential implications that this entails.”
July 2025: Message to the AI for Good Summit 2025
In a message delivered by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of state, Pope Leo sent greetings to participants in the AI for Good Summit 2025. He reiterated that AI must be developed and used for the common good, ensuring it serves the interests of humanity as a whole.
“While AI can simulate aspects of human reasoning and perform specific tasks with incredible speed and efficiency, it cannot replicate moral discernment or the ability to form genuine relationships. Therefore, the development of such technological advancements must go hand in hand with respect for human and social values, the capacity to judge with a clear conscience, and growth in human responsibility,” the Pope said.
November 2025: Message to the Builders AI Forum
In this message to a conference for builders of AI held at the Vatican, Pope Leo expressed gratitude to “all who, through research, entrepreneurship and pastoral vision, seek to ensure that emerging technologies remain oriented toward the dignity of the human person and the common good.”
Quoting Antiqua et Nova, Pope Leo noted that AI, like all human invention, springs from the creative capacity that God has entrusted to all people:
“The Church therefore calls all builders of AI to cultivate moral discernment as a fundamental part of their work — to develop systems that reflect justice, solidarity, and a genuine reverence for life.”
November 2025: Message of the Holy Father Leo XIV to Participants in the International Congress of the Pontifical Academy for Life: “Artificial Intelligence and Medicine: the Challenge of Human Dignity”
Addressing a medical conference, Pope Leo said that in order to ensure true progress in the medical field, it is “imperative that human dignity and the common good remain resolute priorities for all, both individuals and public entities.”
“It is easy to recognize the destructive potential of technology and even medical research when they are placed at the service of antihuman ideologies. … From this point of view, I consider your dedication to exploring the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine to be of great significance,” the Pope said.
“If AI is to serve human dignity and the effective provision of healthcare, we must ensure that it truly enhances both interpersonal relationships and the care provided.”
November 2025: Audience with Participants in the Conference “The Dignity of Children and Adolescents in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”
“Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to manipulation through AI algorithms that can influence their decisions and preferences. It is essential that parents and educators be aware of these dynamics, and that tools be developed to monitor and guide young people’s interactions with technology,” Pope Leo said, addressing a conference on the welfare of children in the age of AI. Above all, minors need guidance in the use of AI through “daily, ongoing educational efforts,” he said.
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. This includes updating existing data protection laws to address new challenges posed by emerging technologies, and promoting ethical standards for the development and the use of AI.
November 2025: Live Address to Young People at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis
Speaking via live link to thousands of young people, Pope Leo responded to a young man’s question about how to use AI responsibly, telling him it means “using it in ways that help you grow, never in ways that distract you from your dignity or your call to holiness. In your education, make the most of this time.”
“AI can process information quickly, but it cannot replace human intelligence. And don’t ask it to do your homework for you. It cannot offer real wisdom. It misses a very important human element: AI will not judge between what is truly right and wrong. And it won’t stand in wonder, in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation,” the Holy Father said.
“So be prudent; be wise; be careful that your use of AI does not limit your true human growth. Use it in such a way that if it disappeared tomorrow, you would still know how to think, how to create, how to act on your own, how to form authentic friendships. Remember, AI can never replace that unique gift that you are to the world.”
December 2025: “Artificial Intelligence and Care for Our Common Home”
In this speech to a conference seeking to identify the risks, abuses and inequalities stemming from the unethical or unregulated production and use of AI, Pope Leo reiterated the importance of protecting young people’s “freedom of mind.”
“Artificial intelligence has certainly opened up new horizons for creativity, but it also raises serious concerns about its possible repercussions on humanity’s openness to truth and beauty, and capacity for wonder and contemplation. Recognizing and safeguarding what characterizes the human person and guarantees his or her balanced growth is essential for establishing an adequate framework for managing the consequences of artificial intelligence,” the Pope said.
January 2026: Message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications
In his first message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Leo warned that artificial intelligence and digital technologies can undermine human relationships and distort reality unless they are guided by responsibility and rooted in education. He cautioned against surrendering human judgment to algorithms and automated systems, particularly those built to maximize engagement on social media.
“Our faces and voices are unique, distinctive features of every person. … Faces and voices are sacred,” the Pope said.
March 2026: Quo Vadis, Humanitas
This document from the International Theological Commission, a body chaired by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, was approved by Pope Leo XIV. Addressing AI, the commission cautioned that forms of knowledge and calculation detached from embodied, situated human intelligence — and from relational knowledge passed down through generations via education — can become a threat to the true good of humanity.
