Pope Leo XIV is establishing a commission on artificial intelligence, a new Vatican body designed to coordinate the Catholic Church’s response to AI. The initiative comes ahead of the Pope’s first encyclical, which is expected to emphasize an ethics-centered approach to the technology. The Vatican announced on Saturday that the pontiff decided to create the commission due to the rapid growth of AI, “its potential effects on human beings and on humanity as a whole [and] the church’s concern for the dignity of every human being.” The announcement came a day after Pope Leo signed his encyclical, a letter drawn up by the pontiff and sent to bishops to provide instructions or guidance on moral questions.. His new encyclical, which should be made public in coming weeks, is expected to consider the question of AI within the church’s social teaching, which also covers issues such as labor, justice and peace.. It’s not the first time Pope Leo has waded into questions of AI. Just a few days after he was elected in May 2025, he told cardinals that the Catholic Church owed it to the world to offer the „treasury of its social teaching“ to confront the challenges posed by AI on „human dignity, justice and labor.“. In June 2025, Pope Leo warned about the possible harmful effects of increasing reliance on artificial intelligence. After noting AI’s potential for good, the pope said there is a possibility for „misuse for selfish gain“ and as a way to „foment conflict and aggression.“. We are all, no doubt, worried about children and young people, and about the potential effects that AI might have on their intellectual and neurological development. Our youth must be helped, and not hindered, in their journey towards maturity and true responsibility,“ the pontiff said.
Artificial Intelligence – POLITICO