Pope Leo XIV, previously known as Robert Francis Prevost, emphasized the impact of artificial intelligence in his inaugural address to the College of Cardinals, likening it to the industrial revolution and underscoring the Church’s responsibility to engage in AI ethics. In that formal address, Pope Leo XIV stated that artificial intelligence influenced both his perspective and the selection of his Papal name. Reflecting on the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, who led the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903, the pontiff compared the current advancements in artificial intelligence to the rapid industrialization of the 18th and 19th century.
Pope Leo XIV referred to the historical encyclical, Rerum Novarum (“About New Things”), which addressed many of the social issues of the first industrial revolution (from 1750 A.D. to 1850 A.D.), but was published by Pope Leo XIII about 50 years after the fact. Pope Leo XIV says the Church now reoffers those teachings to confront the ethical dilemmas posed by the destabilizing artificial intelligence developments of today. He asserted that the Church must address modern ethical challenges with the same moral clarity as before, emphasizing human dignity, justice, and labor amidst new technological realities.
These statements coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump’s AI-generated portrayal of himself as a Pope want-a-be, and with the furious public backlash to Trump’s sacrilegious post. Previously, Pope Francis, too, warned against manipulated images and emphasized the need for moral frameworks guiding AI technologies. Additionally, Pope Leo XIV honored his predecessor, expressing a commitment to continuing his legacy of caring for the impoverished and engaging with contemporary society.
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