Pope Leo XIV has issued one of the Vatican's strongest warnings on artificial intelligence, cautioning that unchecked AI could undermine the "pillars of human civilization”. The Pope delivered this significant statement during his message for World Communications Day, using it as an opportunity to address new technological developments.
The Pope presented artificial intelligence to his audience as more than a technical instrument, with the power to change human cognitive processes and social interactions.
Leo XIV believed that technologies capable of duplicating human vocalizations, facial expressions, and emotional displays would endanger essential components of human identity. He warned that synthetic speech and images, together with personalized digital interactions, would create a situation in which people would be unable to distinguish between actual human existence and machine-generated simulations.
The Pope states that these changes will damage trust among people by reducing authentic relationships and altering how people perceive truth, creativity, and responsibility, which are essential to building societies.
The pontiff expressed concern over what he described as ‘overly affectionate’ AI chatbots. He said systems designed to simulate empathy and emotional closeness may manipulate users, particularly the young and vulnerable, by creating artificial bonds that replace genuine human relationships.
Such tools, he warned, could distort emotional development and encourage dependency on machines rather than communities.
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The Pope stated that human research is needed for the discussion of artificial intelligence because it requires more than just legal and technical expertise. He requested that governments, institutions, and technology companies create ethical guidelines that prioritize human dignity throughout their development processes.
He requested that organizations enhance their digital literacy programs because people need help assessing content generated by algorithms, rather than simply watching it.
The Pope’s intervention states that the Catholic Church will participate in global discussions on artificial intelligence. His message aligns with growing international concern over misinformation, emotional manipulation, and the social impact of generative technologies, framing AI as a test of humanity’s values, not just its ingenuity.