Key Takeaways
- Pope Leo XIV has made artificial intelligence a central concern early in his papacy.
- He intends for the church to address AI’s potential risks to human dignity, justice, and employment.
- This focus highlights the Pope’s grasp of modern technological challenges, surprising some Vatican observers.
- The Pope’s concerns echo anxieties among everyday people, like parishioners in Berlin worried about AI’s impact on truth, education, and jobs.
In Berlin, parishioners at St Matthias Schöneberg Church are on edge about artificial intelligence. They worry about their children encountering misinformation from chatbots or social media, and teachers grapple with AI-assisted cheating. Many, especially translators in this diverse parish of 12,000 Catholics, fear AI could make their jobs obsolete.
These everyday anxieties now have an ally in the new Pope Leo XIV. Less than a week into his role, he has clearly stated his concerns about the swift advancements in AI technology.
During his first address to the College of Cardinals, Pope Leo XIV announced that the church would tackle the risks artificial intelligence poses to human dignity, justice, and labor. Speaking to journalists, he acknowledged AI’s immense potential but stressed the need for responsible development to ensure it benefits everyone.
While it’s still early to predict how Pope Leo will use his influence on this issue, or the extent of his impact, his attention to AI signals a leader attuned to significant contemporary issues, according to The New York Times.
Paolo Benanti, a Franciscan friar, professor, and the Vatican’s leading advisor on AI ethics, expressed surprise at the Pope’s bold prioritization of the topic. Father Benanti recalled that just 15 years ago, his own academic interest in similar subjects like cyborgs and human enhancement was met with disbelief by his doctoral advisors. “And now it’s the first topic of a pope,” he remarked.
Pope Leo’s interest in AI isn’t new. Father Benanti mentioned that last September, the then-cardinal, who holds a degree in mathematics, invited him to speak with Vatican department heads about navigating digital life, including artificial intelligence. This indicates a long-standing consideration of the technology’s societal implications.
