Pope Leo XIV Voices Strong Concerns Over AI's Impact on Human Dignity and Employment, Rejects 'Virtual Pope' Concept

Vatican City State – Pope Leo XIV has issued a series of strong warnings concerning the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on its profound implications for human dignity and employment. The pontiff also explicitly rejected the notion of a 'virtual pope' or AI avatar, underscoring the irreplaceable value of authentic human presence and interaction. These statements have emerged from interviews and messages delivered since his election in May 2025.

Concerns for Human Dignity and the 'False World' of AI

In his first interview since being elected, held on July 10 at Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo and published on September 18 in the Spanish-language book 'Leo XIV: Citizen of the World, Missionary of the 21st Century', Pope Leo XIV articulated his apprehension about AI's capacity to create a 'false world'. He stated, 'However, there is a danger in this, because you end up creating a false world and then you ask yourself: What is the truth?' He warned that the digital realm could 'follow its own path and we will become pawns, or be brushed aside' .

The Pope emphasized that human life finds its meaning in real encounters and relationships, not in artificial replicas . He cautioned against 'extremely wealthy' individuals investing in AI while 'totally ignoring the value of human beings and humanity' . Furthermore, he noted that AI, while capable of performing tasks and simulating reasoning, 'cannot replicate moral discernment or the ability to form genuine relationships' . He also shared a personal experience of being the victim of a deepfake video, where an 'artificial pope' was depicted falling down stairs, illustrating the deceptive potential of AI .

Impact on Employment and the Echo of Leo XIII

Pope Leo XIV has drawn a direct parallel between the current AI revolution and the Industrial Revolution, a period addressed by Pope Leo XIII in his encyclical Rerum Novarum . He chose his papal name in part to honor Leo XIII, signaling his intent to tackle contemporary challenges to labor and social justice .

The pontiff expressed significant concern that automation could lead to a crisis where 'only a few people have the means with which to more than just survive, but to live well, have meaningful lives' . He stressed the intrinsic link between human dignity and meaningful work, stating, 'Human dignity has a very important relationship with the work that we do' . He advocates for AI to be developed and utilized for the common good, ensuring it serves humanity rather than fostering inequality or job displacement .

Rejection of a 'Virtual Pope'

A central point of Pope Leo XIV's stance on AI is his firm rejection of proposals to create an AI-powered 'virtual pope' or avatar that would offer virtual papal audiences . He described himself as 'horrified' by the idea . During his interview, he recounted being asked to authorize an 'artificial me' that would answer questions online, to which he responded, 'I'm not going to authorize that' .

The Pope asserted that 'if there's anybody who should not be represented by an avatar, I would say the Pope is high on the list' . He believes that certain sacred roles and experiences demand the 'irreplaceable authenticity of human presence' . While acknowledging AI's usefulness in fields like medicine, he maintains that an avatar of the papacy crosses a line he will not permit, emphasizing the need to preserve the links between faith, humanity, and science .