Pope Leo XIV urges human

Pope Leo XIV assured the Holy See’s “presence and openness to dialogue, especially in this epochal turning point” in a message to the AI for Good Global Summit, which concludes today in Geneva, Switzerland.

Artificial intelligence has come to define the Pope’s pontificate, influencing his decision to choose the name Leo because of the parallels he sees between its impact and that of the Industrial Revolution during the pontificate of Pope Leo XIII, most recently in his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence.

The summit, organised by the United Nations and co-convened with the Government of Switzerland, features speakers including the presidents of Estonia, Iceland and Rwanda, leaders from industry and universities, and ABBA co-founder Björn Ulvaeus.

The message, which was signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said: “As you are convening to reflect upon AI, which raises some of the major questions of our time regarding the future of humanity, the Holy Father would like to assure you of the Holy See's presence and openness to dialogue, especially in this epochal turning point.

“In his recent Encyclical Letter, Magnifica Humanitas, dedicated to the safeguarding of the human person in the age of AI, Pope Leo XIV expressed his desire to engage in dialogue with all men and women of our time, so as ‘to identify new paths for the common good and for promoting a dignified life for all’.

“Magnifica Humanitas was born from his listening ‘to scientists and engineers who work with sincere enthusiasm on technologies capable of alleviating immense suffering; to political leaders and public officials who have perseveringly sought just rules; to parents and teachers who are deeply concerned for the future of younger generations’. However, at the same time, it was also impelled by troubling accounts of the potential misuses of algorithms and by the loss of human agency in critical areas.”

The encyclical, which called for regulation and a humanity-first approach, drew widespread acclaim beyond Christian circles as a significant contribution to the ongoing debate surrounding artificial intelligence. Figures including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, US Vice President JD Vance and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey engaged with the Pope and the document following its release.