Pope Leo XIV on AI, abuse, and assisted dying: A moral compass for a changing world
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE, Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has told the world to take artificial intelligence seriously, but he is not losing sleep over it. Speaking to reporters on the papal plane returning from a four-day visit to France, the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics offered a measured take on the technology that has sparked both hope and fear across the globe.
“If someone were to ask me, am I in panic mode? No, I'm not. I sleep at night,” the pope said, addressing concerns about AI's rapid advance into daily life.
His comments come at a time when debates over AI risks have intensified, fueled by industry warnings and high-profile incidents. The pope dismissed the idea that these concerns are mere hype.
“This is a problem that I think we need to sit down and talk about,” he said. “To simply say 'Oh, it's not going to happen' and close our eyes to it, I think is probably not the most responsible way to go about that.”
What did the pope say about AI and humanity?
During his French visit, the pope repeatedly stressed the need to protect humanity from being overshadowed by machines. He called for “education in ethical discernment” to avoid losing our humanity “amid a paradise of machines invading and conditioning our daily lives.”
The Vatican has recently ramped up its push for international AI governance, especially in areas like nuclear technology, culture, and artistic creation. The pope also rejected claims that AI warnings are “fake news” spread for financial or other gains.
How did the pope address abuse scandals in the Church?
The visit was closely watched for the pope's handling of the abuse crisis that has shaken the Catholic Church. After meeting with abuse victims in France, he acknowledged that some organizations within the Church had “at times, as a system, been abusive.”
However, he stopped short of calling the abuse “systemic” across the entire Church. He emphasized the deep wounds caused by such scandals.
“People's lives of faith are deeply wounded and sometimes even destroyed,” the pope said. “So there's a particular responsibility of the church to walk with them and to help them seek healing.”
Is the pope entering politics with his stance on assisted dying?
The pope defended his opposition to assisted dying, insisting it is a moral position, not a political one. France's parliament recently passed a law allowing assisted dying in certain cases, and the pope was asked if he had crossed the line between church and state.
“I did not cross it,” he said. The Church, he explained, wants to stand with people “in the midst of sickness or disability or pain” and “affirm the values that life itself holds for all of us.”
His visit comes just seven months before French voters choose a successor to President Emmanuel Macron, with the far-right seeking power. But the pope made clear his focus remains on moral guidance, not electoral politics.
Why does this matter for the Philippines?
For a predominantly Catholic nation like the Philippines, the pope's words carry weight. From the rise of AI in everyday life to the ongoing conversation about faith, suffering, and healing, his message resonates beyond the Vatican.
As the world grapples with rapid technological change, the pope's call for ethical discernment offers a reminder that progress must be tempered with humanity. And for those who have suffered within the Church, his acknowledgment of wounds and his promise of accompaniment is a step toward healing.
The pope's journey back to Rome may be over, but the conversations he has sparked are just beginning.