Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff in history, has outlined his vision for the Catholic Church in his inaugural meeting with cardinals.
He emphasized the “precious legacy” of Pope Francis while identifying artificial intelligence (AI) as one of the most pressing challenges to human dignity, justice, and labor. The new pope also honored his namesake, Pope Leo XIII, who advocated for workers’ rights during the industrial revolution.
In his first formal address to the College of Cardinals, Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, has set the tone for his papacy by pledging to carry forward the “precious legacy” of his predecessor, Pope Francis, and making a bold statement on the challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI). The new pontiff, elected just days ago, highlighted the growing threat AI poses to human dignity, justice, and labor — an issue that aligns closely with Pope Francis’ concerns in his final months.
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Pope Leo, who was elected as the first US-born pope in the Church’s history, addressed the cardinals on Saturday in a meeting that began with a standing ovation. His papal name, Leo XIV, was chosen to honor the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, who led the Church from 1878 to 1903 and made significant contributions to Catholic social teaching. Pope Leo XIII notably addressed the “social question” during the first industrial revolution, advocating for the rights of workers, an issue still relevant today in the context of rapid technological change.
Reflecting on his namesake’s legacy, Pope Leo XIV said, “The Church offers her treasury of social teaching in response to a new industrial revolution — this time, driven by artificial intelligence. We face a new challenge, one that impacts human dignity, justice, and labor.”
In his speech, delivered fluently in Italian, Pope Leo praised the late Pope Francis for his commitment to social justice, humility, and service. “We have seen, especially in the example of Pope Francis, a life dedicated to service, a life lived simply and in complete abandonment to God,” the new pontiff said. “Let us take up this precious legacy and continue the journey, inspired by the same hope that is born of faith.”
Pope Leo also emphasized the importance of renewing the vision set forth by the Second Vatican Council, which introduced major reforms in the 1960s, such as allowing Mass to be celebrated in local languages. He underscored the need for the Church to embrace a “missionary focus,” promoting “growth in collegiality and synodality,” fostering dialogue with the modern world, and showing “loving care for the least and the rejected.”
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Central to Pope Leo’s address was his identification of artificial intelligence as a primary challenge for humanity. He aligned himself with Pope Francis’ warnings about the risks of AI, particularly its potential to reduce human relations to mere algorithms. Pope Francis had been vocal in urging global leaders to regulate AI, particularly its use in warfare and the threat it poses to human autonomy.
In 2023, Pope Francis addressed the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations, cautioning them that AI must remain human-centric and not be allowed to make life-or-death decisions without human intervention. In a message to the world’s Catholic leaders, Pope Leo echoed this concern, warning that AI developments could undermine justice and workers’ rights if not carefully regulated.
“Just as the Industrial Revolution demanded new responses from the Church, the rise of AI calls for a renewed commitment to protecting human dignity,” Pope Leo declared, drawing a direct parallel between the challenges faced by workers in the 19th century and those faced by workers in the age of artificial intelligence.
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Following the meeting with the cardinals, Pope Leo made a surprise visit to the Madonna del Buon Consiglio sanctuary in Genazzano, south of Rome. This site holds special significance for the pope, as he is a member of the Augustinian religious order, and the sanctuary is dedicated to the Virgin Mary under the title “Our Lady of Good Counsel.”
The visit was symbolic, as Pope Leo’s namesake, Pope Leo XIII, had a deep devotion to Our Lady of Good Counsel. The new pope took time to pray before the image of Mary, and afterwards, he greeted the gathered crowd, shaking hands and offering blessings. “I wanted to come here in the first days of my papacy, as the Successor of Peter, to carry forward this mission,” Pope Leo said to those gathered outside the church.
In his speech, Pope Leo also alluded to ongoing challenges faced by the Church, including tensions with China. Czech Cardinal Dominik Duka mentioned that the situation of Catholics in communist China had been raised during the conclave. In 2018, the Vatican signed a controversial deal with Beijing that allows the Chinese government some input into the appointment of bishops. Critics, particularly conservatives, have criticized the agreement, but Cardinal Duka emphasized the need for continued dialogue in places where the Church faces persecution.
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Conservative cardinals, who had often clashed with Pope Francis over his progressive views, have expressed hopes that Pope Leo will bring a more balanced approach to the issues of Church doctrine, particularly regarding the inclusion of LGBTQ+ Catholics and the role of women in leadership.
In his first official remarks as pope, Leo emphasized that his leadership would be one of humility and fraternity. “You, dear cardinals, are the closest collaborators of the pope. This has proved a great comfort to me as I accept this responsibility that is far beyond my own limited powers,” Pope Leo told the gathering.
In the coming days, Pope Leo is expected to meet with more global leaders and Church officials, further cementing his vision for the future of the Church and his commitment to the legacy of social justice and reform that Pope Francis left behind.
Pope Leo will appear on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica once again on Sunday, where 150,000 people are expected to gather in the square below to hear his first public address as pope.
