Pope Leo XIV issued a cautionary message on Friday regarding the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on youth, expressing concern that it could distort their perception of reality and hinder authentic intellectual growth.
In his most direct remarks yet on the subject, the pontiff—who holds a degree in mathematics—voiced unease about the unchecked integration of AI into everyday life, particularly for younger generations whose cognitive and moral foundations are still being formed.
While he has previously raised broader alarms about AI since ascending to the papacy on May 8, this marks the first occasion he has dedicated an address solely to the ethical and developmental implications of the technology.
“All of us… are concerned for children and young people, and the possible consequences of the use of AI on their intellectual and neurological development,” the American pope warned in a written message to participants at the second Rome Conference on AI.
“No generation has ever had such quick access to the amount of information now available through AI
“But again, access to data — however extensive — must not be confused with intelligence,” Leo told business leaders, policymakers and researchers attending the annual conference.
While welcoming the use of AI in “enhancing research in healthcare and scientific discovery”, the pope said it “raises troubling questions on its possible repercussions” on humanity’s “distinctive ability to grasp and process reality”.
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Pope Leo himself has been the target of deep fake videos and audio messages published on social media in recent weeks.
An AFP investigation earlier this month identified dozens of YouTube and TikTok pages broadcasting AI-generated messages masquerading as genuine comments from the pope in English or Spanish.
A recent survey by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism revealed that a growing number of young people are turning to AI-powered chatbots for news consumption, relying on them for headlines and real-time updates.
This trend underscores broader concerns voiced by Pope Leo XIV about the potential cognitive and ethical implications of artificial intelligence, particularly on younger generations whose engagement with reality may be shaped by algorithm-driven content.
Under the leadership of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church had already taken steps to shape the global ethical discourse around emerging technologies. Notably, in 2020, the Vatican launched the Rome Call for AI Ethics, a landmark initiative promoting principles such as transparency, accountability, and privacy.
The agreement was endorsed by major stakeholders including Microsoft, IBM, the United Nations, the Italian government, and several academic institutions — signaling a concerted push for responsible AI development aligned with human dignity.