On August 28, 2025, the American magazine Time published its annual list of the "most influential people in the field of artificial intelligence." Among them is Pope Leo XIV, recognized as one of the 25 most significant thinkers in this domain. The magazine praised his insistence on the ethical issues linked to this emerging technology, emphasizing that the Holy Father ceaselessly reminds us of the primacy of human dignity in the face of technical progress.
A Deeply Meaningful Choice of Name
Shortly after his election, Leo XIV explained to the College of Cardinals that he had chosen his name in homage to Pope Leo XIII, author of the encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891), which confronted the disorders of the industrial revolution by recalling the central place of man, justice, and work. In the same way, Leo XIV wishes to inscribe his pontificate within a reflection on the current digital revolution. In his own words, the developments in artificial intelligence open "new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice, and work."
Artificial Intelligence: A Force for Progress or a Danger to Humanity?
The profile dedicated to him by Time recalls that the Vatican hosted a Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and Corporate Governance last June. In his address, Leo XIV acknowledged AI's potential as a force for good, particularly in the medical or scientific fields. But he immediately warned against possible excesses: this technology could be used for selfish purposes, to increase conflicts, or to divert man from his vocation to seek truth and beauty.
A Moral Voice Amidst the Powers of the World
By placing Leo XIV on this list, Time associates him with figures from high technology and politics such as Elon Musk (xAI), Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), Jensen Huang (Nvidia), U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, and Senator Chris Murphy. The magazine explains that this selection, launched in 2023 after the public emergence of ChatGPT, aims to remind us that it is not machines that determine the future, but people: leaders, researchers, artists, thinkers, and public officials.
Continuity with Leo XIII and Rerum Novarum
The parallel with Leo XIII is central. In 1891, at the heart of industrial upheavals, the pope denounced both the excesses of socialism and the abuses of an unregulated market, and called for cooperation between classes to defend the dignity of man. Today, Leo XIV continues this line of thought by transposing the Church's social doctrine to face the challenges posed by modern technologies.
A Prophetic Role for the Church
The pope thus reminds us that the question is not whether artificial intelligence will surpass man in certain areas, but whether it will be used to serve the common good or to enslave. Through his voice, the Church continues to enlighten consciences, as it has done in the face of past revolutions, calling for every human invention to be placed at the service of truth and salvation.