Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Prevost, has identified artificial intelligence as a critical challenge to human dignity, labor, and justice in his first address. This statement continues the Church’s recent engagement with AI ethics, following previous initiatives under Pope Francis. Prevost's unexpected election marks the first time an American has been named pope.

In his inaugural address to the College of Cardinals, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the Church's role as a guide in addressing developments in AI that pose challenges to human dignity, justice, and labor. His statements reaffirm the Church’s commitment to engaging with AI technology, particularly concerning its impact on the environment and human labor.

Referencing Pope Leo XIII (Gioacchino Pecci), who led Roman Catholics until 1903, Pope Leo XIV draws a parallel to the social challenges of the Industrial Revolution. Pope Leo XIII's landmark encyclical, Rerum Novarum, addressed the duties of capital and labor, advocating for the protection of workers, the right to private property, and the state's role in ensuring social justice. The Vatican has already begun using AI to digitize and index its Apostolic Archives, enhancing access to Church history for researchers and preserving delicate manuscripts.

The pope’s remarks align with global concerns over AI's societal impact, including controversies ranging from deceptive academic experiments to generative AI tools for cheating and censorship. These concerns are mirrored in Catholic thought, which emphasizes protecting human dignity and promoting the common good.

Dr. Lawrence S. Pedregosa noted that while AI tools can assist the Church’s mission by improving evangelization and governance, it is crucial to ensure these technologies do not exacerbate inequality or undermine freedom. He cautioned against replacing physical presence with AI, emphasizing the importance of genuine community.

The previous pope, Francis, described AI in 2023 as a "highest-stakes gamble" and urged its development to serve humanity's potential. The Vatican launched the "Rome Call for AI Ethics," an industry collaboration with major tech firms like Microsoft, IBM, and Cisco. Amid geopolitical conflicts, Pope Francis denounced the use of AI in war, stating that no machine should ever take a human life.

In January, the Vatican published Antiqua et Nova, a document on its official position on AI, stating that while AI has advanced abilities, it lacks the capacity to think. The document also highlighted the risk of human labor losing its value as AI becomes more powerful.