Pope Leo XIV Outlines Papacy Vision Emphasizing AI Challenges

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, has emphasized continuity with the reforms of the Second Vatican Council and his predecessor Pope Francis, particularly in addressing the challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI). In his first official address, he highlighted AI as a critical issue threatening human dignity, justice, and labor, urging the Church to offer its social teachings as guidance amid this new industrial revolution. He chose his papal name in honor of Pope Leo XIII, who laid the groundwork for modern Catholic social thought during the first industrial revolution, notably with his encyclical Rerum Novarum addressing workers' rights and economic justice. Pope Leo XIV praised Pope Francis’ leadership, especially his calls for human-centered AI regulation and synodality, underscoring the need for decisions about AI, including weapon use, to remain under human control. He reaffirmed his commitment to making the Church inclusive and attentive to the marginalized, continuing the path of modernization and missionary conversion. His vision signals a focus on integrating traditional Catholic social teaching with contemporary technological and ethical challenges.