In a message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications on 24 January 2026, Pope Leo XIV framed the rise of generative artificial intelligence as an anthropological challenge — not merely a technical one.

He warned that AI’s ability to simulate voices, faces, and emotions could erode human identity, distort relationships, and reshape public discourse if left unchecked.

The pontiff’s concern goes beyond deepfakes and misinformation to how algorithms reward impulsive reactions and limit critical thinking, contributing to social polarization and weakening the capacity for nuanced human judgment.

He described the increasing reliance on AI for information and communication as a risk to “authentic relationships and the integrity of human communication.”

Leo XIV also echoed longstanding Vatican unease over opaque corporate control of AI systems, stressing that only a handful of powerful firms currently shape the technology that influences how people think and act.

He called for greater transparency, shared governance, and education in media and algorithmic literacy to help individuals discern reality from simulation.

The message builds on earlier Vatican statements underscoring the need to safeguard human dignity in the face of technological advance, including ethical concerns about bias in AI‑driven decision‑making in health systems and the vulnerability of children to algorithmic influence.

Leo XIV’s warning arrives amid broader debates about AI’s societal impact, where critics — from tech pioneers to ethicists — have flagged issues such as deepfakes, algorithmic bias, and the outsized influence of large tech companies on public opinion and labor markets.

Rather than rejecting innovation outright, the pope’s message emphasizes responsibility, cooperation among institutions, and a renewed focus on human agency, urging that technology serve humanity without supplanting the fundamental value of human connection.