Pope Leo XIV Calls for AI Oversight

In his first formal address, Pope Leo XIV identified artificial intelligence (AI) as a critical challenge facing humanity and drew a parallel between the digital revolution and the industrial revolution addressed by Pope Leo XIII. He explained his choice of name as a tribute to Leo XIII, whose 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum shaped Catholic social teaching on workers' rights and economic justice. Echoing Pope Francis, Leo XIV warned of AI's risks, called for international regulation, and emphasized the need for AI to remain human-centered with moral oversight. As the first American-born pope, he pledged to continue the modernizing reforms of Pope Francis and uphold the Second Vatican Council's reforms for a more inclusive Church. He stressed the Church's responsibility to defend human dignity, justice, and labor amid technological change. This address marks a significant Vatican engagement with the ethical challenges presented by emerging technologies.