The U.S. ambassador to the Holy See also proposed a destination for a hypothetical papal visit to the United States: Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n
The Trump administration is happy to have the Vatican\u2019s input on the regulation of artificial intelligence, said U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch. He added that a spirit of cooperation and dialogue on the topic of AI regulation is one that \u201cthe United States welcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the U.S. very much is leading with our corporate technological leadership, with our AI industry. And we want to find ways to cooperate with both governments and welcome, certainly, the input of the Holy See to that conversation,\u201d Burch said, speaking to the press following a May 5 conference<\/a> in Rome on the topic of AI and the future of work.<\/p>\n Addressing journalists at the event held at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Burch did not specifically say whether the U.S. would sign on to an international AI agreement were the Vatican to broker one, noting that the answer to that question is \u201cin the details.\u201d<\/p>\n Burch\u2019s comments come at a time when the question of how to regulate AI, both in the United States and around the world, is being hotly debated.<\/p>\n Up to now, the Trump administration has taken a hands-off approach to AI regulation, even issuing an executive order<\/a> in December mandating that state regulations on AI take a minimally burdensome approach. Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, has directly signaled his skepticism of AI regulation, urging<\/a> governments not to \u201ckill a transformative industry just as it\u2019s taking off.\u201d<\/p>\n But recent reports<\/a> suggest that the Trump administration is reconsidering this lighter approach to AI regulation following the release of Mythos, an exceptionally powerful AI model from U.S. company Anthropic that has stoked concerns among observers about the harms it could do if put in the wrong hands.<\/p>\n Concerns over unregulated AI range from major labor market disruptions and job loss to threats of AI-powered cyber warfare and global destabilization.<\/p>\n For its part, the Holy See has clearly articulated<\/a> ethical considerations that should guide the creation and use of AI, while setting strict regulations on AI\u2019s use within the Vatican\u2019s own borders.<\/p>\n In terms of specific policy recommendations for lawmakers, the Holy See has advocated for AI regulatory frameworks<\/a> that ensure that the technology is developed and utilized for the common good. Pope Leo XIV, who chose his papal name as an indication of his desire to provide a moral framework amid the digital revolution, is widely expected to release an encyclical addressing AI and human dignity later this month.<\/p>\n Regarding the Pope\u2019s guidance on the issue, Vance has previously said that providing moral leadership on AI \u201cis one of the most profound and positive things that Pope Leo could do, not just for the Church but for the world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe American government is not equipped to provide moral leadership, at least full-scale moral leadership, in the wake of all the changes that are going to come with AI,\u201d Vance told New York Times columnist Ross Douthat<\/a> in May 2025. \u201cI think the Church is.\u201d<\/p>\n