Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost arrives on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica for the first time, after the cardinals ended the conclave, in The Vatican, on May 8, 2025. Robert Francis Prevost was on Thursday elected the first pope from the United States, the Vatican announced. A moderate who was close to Pope Francis and spent years as a missionary in Peru, he becomes the Catholic Church's 267th pontiff, taking the papal name Leo XIV.

Pope Leo urged priests to ‘rekindle the fire’ of their ministry -Credit:(Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

(Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Pope Leo has told priests to ditch artificial intelligence when drafting their sermons and put their own minds and prayers to work instead.

Speaking to clergy from the Diocese of Rome in a closed-door Q&A last week, the Chicago‑born Pontiff urged priests to ‘rekindle the fire’ of their ministry by spending real time in prayer and reflection, rather than outsourcing Sunday homilies to chatbots.

Attendees say the Pope’s plain speaking – including a call to ‘use your brains more’ landed well, with several welcoming the no-nonsense tone. According to Vatican News, he said: “AI will never be able to share faith.”

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Pope Leo XIV has made the ethics of AI a running theme, warning that if left to run riot, it could undermine human dignity, fairness and work.

He’s even knocked back the idea of an ‘AI Pope’ that fields believers’ questions – dismissing the concept as a poor substitute for the real thing.

Pope Leo XIV also delivered a sharp telling‑off to priests chasing internet clout, warning that racking up followers online is no substitute for real‑world ministry.

The Pontiff urged priests to keep both feet firmly planted in parish life and stop confusing the buzz of social media with the hard graft of serving people.

Popularity on TikTok or Instagram, he said, is an “illusion if it isn’t rooted in the message of Jesus Christ” and the daily realities of those they’re called to serve.

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After years of decline, Catholic identification in the US, especially, has reportedly stabilised, with one reason given being ‘celebrity priests’ drawing in younger audiences on social media.

For example, Father David Michael has more than 1.2 million Instagram followers, sharing light‑hearted clips about priestly life and fielding questions from the Church.

The Pope himself uses social platforms for pastoral messages – including a Lenten call to ‘fast’ from hurtful words online.

The Pope has previously criticised harsh immigration enforcement in the US and has urged calmer heads on international tensions, including a recent call for peace between the United States and Cuba.

He’s met figures across the American political spectrum, from JD Vance to Marco Rubio – part of a wider effort to keep dialogue open even where there’s sharp disagreement.