Pope Leo XIV warned on Friday about the potential effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on young people’s cognitive development, emphasising that it could impair their understanding of reality.

Since becoming the head of the Catholic Church on May 8, the pope—who has a background in mathematics—has consistently raised concerns regarding the dangers linked to AI, but this marks the first instance in which he has addressed the topic solely.

“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.

While he acknowledged AI’s benefits in “advancing research in healthcare and scientific discovery,” the pope remarked that it “poses alarming questions regarding its potential impacts” on humanity’s “unique capacity to comprehend and interpret reality.”

Pope Leo XIV waves as he arrives for the Angelus prayer in the Vatican on June 15, 2025. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)

Recently, Pope Leo has faced the backlash of deep fake videos and audio recordings circulated on social media platforms.

This week, a study by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism revealed that many young individuals are turning to chatbots for news and updates.

In recent years, the Catholic Church, under Leo’s predecessor, Francis, has sought to shape ethical discussions concerning the use of emerging technologies.

In 2020, the Vatican launched the Rome Call for AI Ethics, which was endorsed by Microsoft, IBM, the United Nations, Italy, and several universities. The call called for transparency and a commitment to privacy.

Pope Leo XIV has issued a stark warning regarding the potential negative impact of artificial intelligence on the intellectual, neurological, and spiritual development of young people.

The caution was delivered in a message to a major conference on AI and ethics.

The conference, which saw part of its proceedings held within the Vatican, underscored the Holy See’s growing concern over emerging technologies and their broader implications for humanity.

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The Pope’s message highlighted the Vatican’s proactive engagement with the ethical dimensions of AI.

In his address, Pope Leo stressed that any future development of artificial intelligence must be rigorously evaluated against a “superior ethical criterion”: the imperative to safeguard the dignity of every human being while simultaneously respecting the diverse tapestry of the world’s population.

He specifically cautioned that new generations face the greatest risk from these advancements, given their unprecedented and rapid access to information, a factor that could exacerbate negative developmental impacts.

Pope Leo has warned that young people’s development could be put at risk by AI (AP)

“All of us, I am sure, are concerned for children and young people, and the possible consequences of the use of AI on their intellectual and neurological development,” he said in the message.

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“Society’s well-being depends upon their being given the ability to develop their God-given gifts and capabilities,” and not allow them to confuse mere access to data with intelligence, he said.

“In the end, authentic wisdom has more to do with recognising the true meaning of life, than with the availability of data.”

Leo, who was elected in May after the death of Pope Francis, has identified AI as one of the most critical matters facing humanity, saying it poses challenges to defending human dignity, justice and labour.

He has explained his concern for AI by invoking his namesake, Pope Leo XIII.

That Leo was pope during the dawn of the Industrial Revolution and made the plight of workers, and the need to guarantee their rights and dignity, a key priority.

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Toward the end of his pontificate, Francis became increasingly vocal about the threats to humanity posed by AI and called for an international treaty to regulate it.

Francis said politicians must take the lead in making sure AI remains human-centric, so that decisions about when to use weapons or even less-lethal tools always remain made by humans and not machines.

This photo taken and handout on May 9, 2025 by The Vatican Media shows Pope Leo XIV during a mass with cardinals in the Sistine Chapel in The Vatican. (Photo by Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP)

Pope Leo XIV warned on Friday of the potential consequences of artificial intelligence on the intellectual development of young people, saying it could damage their grip on reality.

Since his election as head of the Catholic Church on May 8, the pope — a mathematics graduate — has repeatedly warned of the risks associated with AI, but this is the first time he has spoken out exclusively on the subject.

“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”.

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 survey from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism this week found significant numbers of young people in particular, were using chatbots to get headlines and updates.

The Catholic Church has attempted to influence ethical thinking surrounding the use of new technologies in recent years under Leo’s predecessor, Francis.

In 2020, the Vatican initiated the Rome Call for AI Ethics — signed by Microsoft, IBM, the United Nations, Italy and a host of universities — urging transparency and respect for privacy.

AFP

Pope Leo XIV has issued a stark warning about the potential impact of artificial intelligence on young people’s intellectual, neurological, and spiritual development. During a conference held partly in the Vatican, the first American pope urged that AI development must adhere to ethical standards safeguarding human dignity and world diversity.

Leo emphasized the risks facing new generations, who have unprecedented access to information. He highlighted the need for society to support the nurturing of innate talents and capabilities, rather than confusing data access with genuine intelligence.

Echoing Pope Leo XIII’s focus on workers’ rights during the Industrial Revolution, Pope Leo XIV sees AI as a monumental issue affecting justice, dignity, and labor. He calls for policies ensuring AI remains ‘human-centric,’ following the path set by his predecessor, Pope Francis.

(With inputs from agencies.)

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Pope Leo XIV cautioned on Friday about the potential effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on the intellectual development of young people, stating it could harm their understanding of reality.

The warning is contained in a written message to participants at the second Rome Conference on AI.

Since his election as head of the Catholic Church on May 8, the pope has repeatedly warned of the risks associated with AI, but this is the first time he has spoken out exclusively on the subject.

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“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.

“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.

“While welcoming the use of AI in enhancing research in healthcare and scientific discovery, it raises troubling questions on its possible repercussions on humanity’s distinctive ability to grasp and process reality.”

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