Pope Leo and Artificial Intelligence
The Pope Prepares the World for the A.I. Revolution
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was Pope Leo XIII that helped the world navigate the upheavals caused by the Industrial Revolution. Pope Leo XIV, our new Pope, chose the same name because of the drastic changes to come from the Artificial Intelligence Revolution just beginning. He knows that A.I. will change how governments and businesses operate, how you spend your time and what you choose to spend your time on. This effects the Church, its members and everyone else.
Pope Leo XIII; The Industrial Revolution
In 1891, during the Industrial Revolution, Pope Leo XIII wrote:
That the spirit of new things [revolutionary change], which has long been disturbing the nations of the world, should have passed beyond the sphere of politics and made its influence felt in the cognate sphere of practical economics is not surprising.
As detailed in Russell Hittinger’s article, “The Three Necessary Societies”, this was the opening line to Pope Leo XIII’s historic Rerum Novarum (Latin for “spirit of new things”) as drastic change took place both economically and politically. Workers were replaced by technology and fled to the cities for cheap factory jobs. This detrimentally impacted marriages and families.
At the same time, revolutionary changes to governments were underway, set off by the French Revolution a hundred years earlier. Totalitarianism, in one form or another, was taking hold of societies, affecting individual liberty.
Societies were being broken apart and this impacted the Church and its members economically, politically and spiritually.
Pope Leo XIII addressed these issues head on in his Rerum Novarum where he stated that there are three necessary societies that exist under God: marriage and family, polity and the Church. Each necessary society spills over into the other. One society cannot go through drastic changes without affecting the other.
For example, the French Revolution resulted in a law ceding control of the Church to the government. Dioceses were reduced, marriages were made only civil contracts and celibacy for the secular clergy was relaxed. These forced changes and others were coined by Pope Leo XIII as the “Great Conflagration.”
All of these changes in the 19th and early 20th centuries greatly impacted the three societies. These changes were contrary to the Christian ethical principles on the importance of maintaining human dignity in pursuit of the common good. It is why Pope Leo XIII produced the Rerum Novarum, to turn things around, and is an indication as to how the new Pope Leo will be addressing and preparing us for the A.I. Revolution.
Pope Leo XIV; The A.I. Revolution
The A.I. Revolution, so far, hasn’t resulted in a seismic shift on the three societies outlined in the Rerum Novarum. But the economic experts and the Church know big changes are coming. Here is Pope Leo XIV explaining why he took the name “Leo” and the importance of addressing A.I. in a similar manner as Pope Leo XIII addressed the changes in the late 19th century:
“Sensing myself called to continue in this same path, I chose to take the name Leo XIV.”
Pope Leo XIV, March 10, 2025
A detailed report on the impact of A.I. was also presented to Pope Francis in January 2025, called Antiqua et Nova (“Old and New Things”; see it here). It was from the Dicasteries for both the Doctrine of Faith and Culture and Education.
This article from Catholic World Report summarizes it with these four points:
Computer intelligence is not human. A.I. just imitates intelligence by recongnizing patterns. It does not grasp reality.
A.I. is merely a tool. There is no moral judgement on A.I. because it is not a person. The morality is on how it should and should not be used.
A.I. should not replace human relationships. Work is a vocation that is discerned by humans in pursuit of God’s will.
A.I. should not become idolatry. A.I. is not God and should not be treated as such.
Here is the final paragraph of the 117 paragraph report:
117. From this perspective of wisdom, believers will be able to act as moral agents capable of using this technology to promote an authentic vision of the human person and society.[215] This should be done with the understanding that technological progress is part of God’s plan for creation—an activity that we are called to order toward the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ, in the continual search for the True and the Good.
In Pope Leo XIV’s very early papacy, it is apparent that A.I. will be a focus of the Church which will provide advice and guidance to help its members and the rest of the world to navigate the dramatic changes to come.
When Science Fiction Becomes Reality
I’m reading the Robot series by Isaac Asimov. The first book was published in 1950 and the last in 1985 (there are five; I’m on number three). The series is about humans on Earth and other planets that have created and used robots with positronic brains, making them smarter than humans. Each robot must follow the three laws of robotics to protect humanity. It’s an excellent series (the movie is horrible, nothing like the book; will someone please make a good Asimov movie please?)
Reading this series and witnessing the progression of A.I. has been astounding. I see breakthroughs in robot design and the daily leaps of A.I. that will serve as their brains, along with the promises that smart, personal robots bring. It’s as if the world is starting to resemble the robots in Asimov’s novels. Each day, it feels like I’m watching a prequel to the series. But I’m not—I’m living in it.
As we all live within the three societies identified by Pope Leo XIII—that is, marriage and family, polity and the Church—the implications of the A.I. Revolution for these societies will clearly be addressed by Pope Leo XIV. I happen to address this as well in my novel that I hope you can read soon.
I pray that you will adapt well to the changes coming, as the world goes deeper into the A.I. Revolution.
Peace.
P.S. Here is Isaac Asimov discussing A.I. in 1991, just before he died.