Pope Leo XIII: Artificial intelligence must reflect the plan of the Creator God.

Pope Leo XIV has called on scientists, entrepreneurs, and pastoral leaders engaged in the development and employment of artificial intelligence to ensure that emerging technologies remain rooted in respect for human dignity and the common good.

In a message addressed to participants in theBuilders AI Forum 2025, held at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, the Pope expressed gratitude to those who, through “research, entrepreneurship, and pastoral vision,” are seeking to align innovation with the Church’s mission.

Technology at the service of humanity

“The question is not merely what AI can do,” the Pope wrote, “but who we are becoming through the technologies we build.”

Artificial intelligence, he said, “like all human invention, springs from the creative capacity that God has entrusted to us,” and therefore, “technological innovation can be a form of participation in the divine act of creation.”

Such creativity, the Pope continued, carries “an ethical and spiritual weight, for every design choice expresses a vision of humanity.”

For this reason, he urged those working in the field to “cultivate moral discernment as a fundamental part of their work—to develop systems that reflect justice, solidarity, and a genuine reverence for life.”

An ecclesial and collaborative mission

Pope Leo XIV pointed out that this commitment cannot be confined to laboratories or investment portfolios. “It must be a profoundly ecclesial endeavour,” he said, noting that the building of ethical AI systems “illustrates the dialogue between faith and reason renewed in the digital epoch.”

He encouraged participants to see their work as a shared mission to place technology “at the service of evangelization and the integral development of every person,” highlighting that each initiative—whether in education, healthcare, or digital storytelling—contributes to this common goal.

“Intelligence, whether artificial or human,” the Pope affirmed, “finds its fullest meaning in love, freedom, and relationship with God.”