Pope Leo XIV, during a meeting with clergy of the Roman Diocese, expressed strong opposition to the use of artificial intelligence tools for preaching faith. He emphasized that "artificial intelligence will not transmit faith." The Holy Father appealed to priests for authenticity, direct contact with the faithful, and knowledge of parish community life, placing these values above apparent online successes.

Categorical Opposition to AI

Leo XIV clearly stated that using artificial intelligence tools for writing homilies or evangelization is unacceptable. In his view, AI is not capable of transmitting faith.

Call for Authenticity in Priesthood

The pope emphasized that people want to see authentic spiritual life and priests' faith. Effective ministry requires direct involvement and knowledge of the community's needs.

Warning Against Internet Illusion

Leo XIV warned against the illusion of popularity online. He stated that many likes or followers do not indicate effective evangelization if one is not conveying the true message of Christ.

Meeting in Paul VI Hall

The address took place during a meeting with several hundred priests of the Roman Diocese in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican. The pope answered questions about pastoral challenges.

Pope Leo XIV delivered a clear and firm message to priests regarding the role of new technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, in the life and mission of the Church. During a meeting with clergy of the Roman Diocese in the Paul VI Hall, responding to a question about evangelization methods in the modern world, the pope strongly advised against using AI to create religious content, such as homilies.

The issue of the relationship between faith and technology has been a subject of Church reflection for decades. The Second Vatican Council in its pastoral constitution "Gaudium et Spes" (1965) called for prudent use of technological goods, while emphasizing the primacy of the human person. In recent years, the Holy See has repeatedly spoken out on ethics in technology, exemplified by the document "Rome Call for AI Ethics" from 2020, signed by the Pontifical Academy for Life.

Leo XIV emphasized that faith is a gift that requires personal, human witness. „Sztuczna inteligencja non trasmetterà la fede” (Artificial intelligence will not transmit faith.) — Leon XIV. His words are a direct response to the growing temptation in some circles to use advanced language models to automate part of pastoral work, including sermon preparation.

Papal Position on Technology in Evangelization: Role of Artificial Intelligence: Potential supporting tool → Unacceptable means for transmitting faith; Key values in evangelization: Technological efficiency and reach → Authenticity and personal witness; Measure of pastoral success: Number of likes and online followers → Depth of message and relationship with the faithful

The pope elaborated on his thought, pointing to a broader problem of modern communication. He warned against the illusion of success that can come from popularity on social media. "It is often an illusion on the internet: I have many followers, many likes, because I speak.... That's not you: if we are not transmitting the message of Jesus Christ, perhaps we are mistaken," he said, as quoted by Vatican News. In his view, true evangelization consists of direct contact and service to the community, which requires a deep understanding of its life and needs.

The address fits into the ongoing teaching line of Leo XIV since the beginning of his pontificate, who often emphasizes the importance of closeness, simplicity, and concreteness in priestly ministry. The meeting in the Paul VI Hall was an opportunity to exchange thoughts with hundreds of priests working in Rome – a city of special character, being both the capital of Italy and the center of world Catholicism. The pope's message, although directly addressed to clergy, has broader resonance in a world where algorithms and automation increasingly enter spheres previously reserved for human creativity and relationships.

Mentioned People

  • Leon XIV — Pope, head of the Catholic Church, who spoke about the use of artificial intelligence in evangelization.
  • s. Amata J. Nowaszewska CSFN — Author of the event report for Vatican News.