At the AI for Good Summit held in Geneva on July 10, 2025, the Vatican delivered a message on behalf of Pope Leo XIV, emphasizing the urgent need for ethical governance and global responsibility in the development of artificial intelligence.
The message, signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, was addressed to participants gathered under the auspices of the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union (ITU), marking its 160th anniversary.
“AI cannot replicate moral discernment or the ability to form genuine relationships,” Parolin noted.
He called for greater attention to the anthropological and ethical stakes of emerging technologies, especially in areas like healthcare, education, and governance.
Ordering well
Pope Leo XIV, who was elected in early 2025 following the death of Pope Francis, is already making clear that his pontificate will continue his predecessor’s strong moral engagement with digital ethics.
The message to the summit urged developers, regulators, and users to prioritize the common good, human dignity, and “the tranquility of order” — a phrase drawn from St. Augustine’s City of God, evoking peace through justice and rightly ordered relationships.
With an estimated 2.6 billion people worldwide still lacking access to modern communication tools, the Vatican’s message also acknowledged the ongoing digital divide.
It highlighted the responsibility of the international community to ensure that technological advancements are inclusive and equitable, especially for rural and underserved communities.
The message also aligns with broader Catholic teaching on integral human development — a principle that holds that progress must be measured not only by economic or technical achievements, but by the enhancement of the human person in all dimensions.
As the Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms, “Man is the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake” (CCC 1703). Any artificial intelligence, no matter how advanced, must remain a servant to this fundamental truth.
Innovation + wisdom
Cardinal Parolin concluded the message by expressing the Pope’s support for a globally coordinated approach to AI oversight — one that rests on shared ethical standards and respect for human freedoms.
He also offered Pope Leo XIV’s prayers for the summit’s success and for all efforts “towards the common good.”
The Vatican’s sober voice and emphasis on human-centered governance underscore its concern that, without clear ethical direction, AI risks reinforcing injustice rather than promoting human flourishing. In offering its voice to this high-level international forum, the Holy See continues to advocate for a digital future shaped not just by innovation, but by wisdom.
