New Pope identifies AI as major challenge to humanity. What he said

Pope Leo XIV's focus on AI continues the trajectory set by his predecessor, Pope Francis.

In his inaugural address to the College of Cardinals, Pope Leo XIV—formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago—emphasised the profound ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI), declaring it a central concern of his papacy. He warned that AI threatens to disrupt human dignity, justice, and labor, drawing parallels to the societal upheavals of the Industrial Revolution.

Pope Leo XIV explained that his choice of papal name was inspired by Pope Leo XIII, who addressed workers' rights during the Industrial Revolution through the 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum. He suggested that today's AI revolution presents similar, if not greater, challenges, necessitating a renewed application of Catholic social teaching.

The pontiff's remarks align with the Vatican's ongoing efforts to engage with the ethical implications of AI. In January 2025, the Holy See released a document titled "Antiqua et Nova," which emphasised that AI must serve human potential and not compete against it. The document highlighted the importance of maintaining human oversight and accountability in AI development and deployment.

Pope Leo XIV's focus on AI continues the trajectory set by his predecessor, Pope Francis, who had previously called for an international treaty to regulate AI and warned against its potential to exacerbate inequalities and erode human dignity.

Meanwhile, elected swiftly on the fourth ballot, Pope Leo garnered overwhelming support from the College of Cardinals. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, a former contender, praised Pope Leo's leadership qualities, noting his "calmness in argumentation, balance in proposing solutions, respect, care, and love for everyone."