Pope Leo XIV has rejected the idea of an AI-powered papal avatar, warning that unchecked technological processes could erode human dignity and spiritual connection. His stance calls for moral leadership in the digital age.
Pope Leo XIV Rejects AI Papacy “The Human Heart Will Be Lost”
In a bold and deeply philosophical stance, Pope Leo XIV has publicly refused to authorize the creation of an artificial intelligence version of himself. The proposal, which involved developing a digital avatar capable of answering questions and simulating papal audiences, was met with firm resistance. Pope Leo XIV told biographer Eloise Allen in an interview statement:
“If there’s anybody who should not be represented by an avatar, I would say the Pope should be high on the list.”
The pontiff revealed that someone had recently requested permission to build an “artificial Pope” that users could interact with online. Pope Leo XIV’s response was unequivocal, saying that “I’m not going to authorize that.” For Pope Leo, the idea of digitizing the papacy undermines the sacredness of human connection and spiritual leadership.
His rejection isn’t rooted in technophobia. In fact, Pope Leo has previously acknowledged the transformative power of artificial intelligence, likening it to a new Industrial Revolution. But this comparison is far from celebratory, as he draws a parallel to Pope Leo XIII’s 19th-century treatise Rerum Novarum, which addressed the exploitation of workers during the first Industrial Revolution. Today, Pope Leo XIV sees AI as a similar threat-one that could deepen inequality and strip away human dignity.
A Call for Moral Leadership in the Digital Age