Pope Leo XIV, Among the Reasons for Choosing the Name There is Artificial Intelligence

In his first speech to the College of Cardinals, Pope Leo XIV explains the choice of the papal name inspired by Leo XIII and announces artificial intelligence as one of the great challenges of his pontificate, recalling the tradition of the social doctrine of the Church to face the changes of the new technological revolution

In his first speech to the College of Cardinals, Pope Leo XIV outlined the guidelines of his pontificate, focusing in particular on the meaning of the choice of the papal name. Among the main reasons given, surprisingly, is the role of artificial intelligence in the contemporary world. Pope Leo XIV wanted to explicitly recall the figure of Leo XIII, the pontiff who addressed the profound social and economic changes brought about by the first industrial revolution through the encyclical Rerum Novarum. On that historic occasion, the Church spoke out decisively in defense of the dignity of work and social justice, inaugurating a tradition of social doctrine that continues to this day.

"I chose the name Leo XIV for several reasons, but primarily because Leo XIII, with his encyclical Rerum Novarum, addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution," said Leo XIV. "Today, the Church offers everyone the treasure of her social doctrine in response to a new industrial revolution and developments in artificial intelligence, which pose new challenges to the defense of human dignity, justice and work."

The declaration marks a turning point in the Holy See's approach to technological innovation. In recent years, in fact, the Vatican has shown a growing interest in artificial intelligence, promoting reflections on ethical, epistemological and social issues related to its development. In a document published last January, the Church addressed the limits of AI, its relationship with truth and the moral responsibilities of those who design and use it. Pope Francis had already issued a warning, warning of the risk that artificial intelligence could generate partial or completely false narratives, accepted and spread as truth.