“Authentic wisdom has more to do with recognising the true meaning of life than with the availability of data.” — Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV has raised serious concerns over the impact of artificial intelligence on children’s development, warning that AI could disrupt their intellectual, neurological, and spiritual growth.
In a message to an AI and ethics conference partly held in the Vatican, Pope Leo stressed that future technological progress must be guided by “a superior ethical criterion” that protects human dignity and respects global diversity.
“All of us, I am sure, are concerned for children and young people, and the possible consequences of the use of AI,” he said. “Authentic wisdom has more to do with recognising the true meaning of life, than with the availability of data.”
The Pope, elected in May after Pope Francis’s death, cited Leo XIII’s advocacy for workers during the Industrial Revolution to highlight the Church’s moral stance on new threats.
He echoed Francis’ call for global AI regulation to ensure it remains human-centric and does not undermine justice, dignity, or labour.