Pope Leo XIV Issues Global Warning: AI Could Destroy Humanity & Our Civilisation

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope and successor to the late Pope Francis, has made artificial intelligence (AI) a central concern of his pontificate. In a series of speeches and documents, he warns that AI carries a “shadow of evil,” echoing fears expressed during the Industrial Revolution by his namesake, Pope Leo XIII. Leo XIII, who served at the end of the 19th century, was known as the “Pope of the Workers” and issued the landmark encyclical Rerum Novarum in 1891, defending labor rights, fair wages, and social justice.

Similarly, Pope Leo XIV sees AI as the new industrial upheaval. “In our own day, the church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence,” he said during a May 2025 address, as quoted by the Associated Press.

About Pope Leo XIV

Born Robert Francis Prevost on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV is the first American-born pontiff and the first pope with dual U.S. and Peruvian citizenship. A member of the Order of Saint Augustine, he was ordained in 1982 and spent many years in Peru as a missionary, teacher, and later as Bishop of Chiclayo. He was made a cardinal by Pope Francis and served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops before being elected pope in May 2025.

His extensive work in Latin America, including advocacy for social justice and support for Venezuelan refugees, shaped his pastoral approach. Known for his calm demeanor and intellectual depth, Leo XIV has emphasized continuity with the reforms of the Second Vatican Council and engagement with modern challenges such as artificial intelligence and climate change.

By choosing the name Leo XIV, he signaled his intention to revive the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, who guided the Church through the upheavals of the Industrial Revolution. Now, Leo XIV positions the Church to respond morally and spiritually to the disruptive forces of the AI era.

Despite efforts by tech leaders to court the Vatican — including visits from Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, y Dario Amodei — Leo XIV remains skeptical of unregulated innovation. “These tools must not be demonized, but they must be regulated,” said Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, adding, “It is not credible for their creators to regulate them. There must be a higher authority.”

Ethical AI and Human Dignity

At the Second Annual Rome Conference on Artificial Intelligence in June 2025, Pope Leo delivered a strong message on the ethical implications of AI. He emphasized that any development in AI must uphold the inviolable dignity of every human being and must not sacrifice ethical considerations for technological advancement.

• “Access to data — however extensive — must not be confused with intelligence,” Leo stated in his message, as quoted by CNN.
• He warned of the “eclipse” of human dignity in a society that increasingly values efficiency over ethical depth.
• “AI is undoubtedly an exceptional product of human genius,” he said, but reminded the audience that it remains, first and foremost, a tool.

Leo’s emphasis aligns with the Vatican’s broader initiative launched in 2020 under Pope Francis — the Rome Call for AI Ethics. Major tech companies such as Microsoft, IBM, and Qualcomm have signed onto the document, which encourages AI development to be “human-centric.”

The Impact on Children and Society

One of Pope Leo XIV’s most urgent warnings relates to AI’s influence on young people. He expressed concerns over its effects on their intellectual, neurological, and spiritual development.

“No generation has ever had such quick access to the amount of information now available through AI,” Leo said in his address, cited by Vatican News. “But access to data must not be confused with intelligence.”

He warned that children risk confusing knowledge with wisdom, as they face a deluge of algorithmically served content. “Society’s well-being depends upon their being given the ability to develop their God-given gifts,” Leo added, calling for careful oversight of how AI is integrated into education and child development.

In this context, the pope stressed the importance of intergenerational guidance. “Our youth must be helped, and not hindered, in their journey towards maturity and true responsibility,” he declared. This sentiment has resonated among church leaders and ethicists attending the Vatican-hosted conference.

Global AI Governance

A recurring theme in Leo XIV’s statements is the urgent need for governance. With global powers such as the EU shifting from regulation toward competitiveness, the pope’s call for ethical oversight stands in stark contrast. As Politico reports, the recent AI summit in Paris saw global leaders focusing more on deal-making than protective regulation.

Pope Leo insists that AI governance must not be left to corporations alone. “The task set before you is not easy, but it is one of vital importance,” he told attendees at the AI and Ethics conference. The Vatican itself, while lacking legislative authority, aims to be a moral compass for the AI discourse.

In previous years, Pope Francis advocated for an international treaty on AI, warning of a potential “technological dictatorship.” Pope Leo XIV appears poised to continue this path, urging scientists and politicians to act without arrogance and with concern for those most affected by automation and data-driven decision-making.

As society advances into a new era shaped by generative AI and autonomous systems, the Vatican’s message is clear: progress must be paired with principles. And Pope Leo XIV intends for the Church to be at the center of that ethical conversation.