Pope Leo XIV Emphasizes: Technology Must Serve Humanity, Not Replace It
Vatican City, 24 January 2026 — In his message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Leo XIV has called for a conscientious approach to technological innovation, especially artificial intelligence (AI), underscoring that technology must serve the human person without supplanting or diminishing human dignity.
The Pope’s message, set to be celebrated on 17 May 2026, focuses on the interplay between digital communication, AI, and the preservation of human identity and relationships. He highlights the unique human qualities of face and voice as foundational to personal identity and authentic interaction, warning against their potential erosion through advancing technologies.
Human Identity at the Heart of Communication
Pope Leo XIV reflects on the theological and anthropological roots that underpin human dignity, reminding the faithful that humans are created in the image and likeness of God and called into relationship through the Word. “Preserving human faces and voices means preserving this mark, this indelible reflection of God’s love,” he writes.
He stresses that humans are not mere biochemical entities; each person has an irreplaceable and unique vocation borne out of lived experience and interpersonal interaction. Therefore, technology must not compromise this distinctiveness but rather support and enhance it.
The Anthropological Challenge of AI and Digital Technologies
The Pope cautions that the rise of AI systems capable of simulating human voices, faces, and emotions risks altering essential aspects of human communication and connection. He frames the problem as primarily anthropological rather than purely technological—a matter of safeguarding authentic human identity and relationships in the digital era.
One critical concern raised involves social media algorithms, which often prioritize swift emotional reactions over thoughtful reflection. This dynamic can weaken critical thinking, entrench social polarization, and foster echo chambers where dissenting voices are marginalized. “By grouping people into bubbles of easy consensus and easy outrage, these algorithms reduce our ability to listen and think critically, and increase social polarisation,” Pope Leo explains.
Further, the Pope notes how increasing reliance on AI for information, creativity, and decision-making may diminish individuals’ analytical skills, imagination, and sense of personal responsibility.
Navigating Reality, Simulation, and Their Social Impacts
Pope Leo highlights the challenge of distinguishing reality from simulation in digital environments, where automated agents and chatbots influence public discourse and personal choices. These technologies have the power to shape emotional responses and social interactions, with far-reaching effects on cultural and social life.
Calls for Responsibility, Cooperation, and Education
In response to these challenges, the Pope identifies responsibility, cooperation, and education as essential pillars. He appeals to technology developers, political authorities, media professionals, and educators to promote transparency, safeguard human dignity, and preserve the integrity of information.
He emphasizes: “The task laid before us is not to stop digital innovation, but rather to guide it and to be aware of its ambivalent nature. It is up to each of us to raise our voice in defence of human persons, so that we can truly assimilate these tools as allies.”
Recognizing that no single sector can effectively govern AI and digital innovation alone, Pope Leo calls for collaborative efforts across all stakeholders—from the tech industry and legislators to artists, journalists, and academia—to foster responsible digital citizenship aimed at the common good.
Promoting Media Literacy and Digital Awareness
The Pope underscores the vital role of education in this digital age. Media literacy, information literacy, and AI literacy are necessary to develop critical awareness, uphold personal identity, and encourage responsible communication practices.
Drawing a parallel to the literacy demands sparked by the industrial revolution, he writes: “The digital revolution requires digital literacy (along with humanistic and cultural education) to understand how algorithms shape our perception of reality, how AI biases work, what mechanisms determine the presence of certain content in our feeds, what the economic principles and models of the AI economy are and how they might change.”
A Renewed Emphasis on the Human Face and Voice
In closing, Pope Leo XIV reaffirms the importance of cherishing the human face and voice as central to communication’s deepest truth. He calls for technological progress to be consciously oriented toward serving the human person, not replacing or diminishing human presence.
“We need faces and voices to speak for people again. We need to cherish the gift of communication as the deepest truth of humanity, to which all technological innovation should also be oriented,” he concludes.
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