NewsPope Leo XIV names AI one of the reasons for his papal nameThe new pope suggests AI poses similar challenges as the industrial revolution during which Pope Leo XIII served.The new pope suggests AI poses similar challenges as the industrial revolution during which Pope Leo XIII served.by Wes DavisMay 10, 2025, 8:48 PM UTCLinkFacebookThreadsPope Leo XIV speaking to the College of Cardinals on May 10th. Photo by Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media via Vatican Pool / Getty ImagesWes Davis is a weekend editor who covers the latest in tech and entertainment. He has written news, reviews, and more as a tech journalist since 2020.As Pope Leo XIV laid out his vision for the papacy in an address to the College of Cardinals, he also explained why he picked his papal name. Incredibly, artificial intelligence played a big part.In the Vatican’s translation of his speech, Pope Leo XIV explained that his name references Pope Leo XII, who presided over the church at the dawn of the industrial revolution.…I chose to take the name Leo XIV. There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution. In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.Below is more of the excerpt, published by the Catholic News Service.RelatedWhy am I internet-stalking the pope?The swagged-out pope is an AI fake — and an early glimpse of a new realityThe Catholic Church has taken a keen interest in the development of AI in recent years. In a January document published by the Vatican and translated to English, the church reflected on AI, its limitations, its relationship with the truth, and the ethics of developing and using the technology. The document also references a warning issued a year prior by Pope Francis about AI’s potential to create “partially or completely false narratives, believed and broadcast as if they were true.”But if Pope Francis set up how the Catholic Church feels about AI, Pope Leo XIV citing it as a main reason for his name hints that it will be an even bigger part of the church’s focus during his papacy.See More: AINewsTechMore in this streamSee allSoundCloud says it isn’t using your music to train generative AI toolsWes Davis3:40 PM UTCCommentsComment Icon BubbleOh no, I turned everything into an AI podcastAndru MarinoMay 8CommentsComment Icon BubbleGoogle is going to let kids use its Gemini AIUmar ShakirMay 3CommentsComment Icon BubbleMost PopularMost PopularYou can now submit your claims for Apple’s $95 million Siri spying settlementNetflix is removing Black Mirror: BandersnatchBorder agents are going to photograph everyone leaving the US by carAdidas’ 3D-printed sneaker review: What are those!?Palworld had to remove game features because of Nintendo lawsuitInstallerA weekly newsletter by David Pierce designed to tell you everything you need to download, watch, read, listen to, and explore that fits in The Verge’s universe.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native ad
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