Pope Leo XIV on Pastoral Challenges: Artificial Intelligence Will Not Transmit Faith

Pope Leo XIV, during a meeting with clergy of the Diocese of Rome at the Vatican, issued a clear warning against the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in pastoral ministry, particularly in creating homilies. In his address at the Paul VI Audience Hall, which gathered nearly a thousand priests, the Holy Father stated that „„Artificial intelligence will not transmit faith”” — Leon XIV. In his view, the very task of a homily is to transmit faith, and technological tools are incapable of replacing this. The Pope also addressed broader pastoral challenges in the postmodern world, pointing to the decline of family transmission of faith and the illusory nature of effectiveness based on popularity on social media. The issue of the Catholic Church's relationship with new technologies has a long history. Since the invention of printing, through radio and television, to the internet, the Church's Magisterium has always encouraged the prudent use of communication means for evangelization, while simultaneously emphasizing the irreplaceability of personal encounter and testimony. The Pope also commented on a paradox of modernity: although priests may have many followers and likes online, popularity itself does not automatically translate into effectiveness in preaching the Gospel. „„It is not you: if we are not transmitting the message of Jesus Christ, perhaps we are mistaken”” — Leon XIV – he noted. He emphasized that what is crucial for a pastor is authentic closeness to the community and a deep understanding of its life and needs. The meeting, which took place during Lent, was opened by the Pope with a joke that it should not be treated as penance. His message, however, indicates the need for deep reflection on the direction of contemporary evangelization in the face of technological and cultural changes.