Pope Leo warns: AI is a challenge for humanity

Pope Leo warns: AI is a challenge for humanity

The new Pope Leo XIV announced on Saturday that his pontificate will closely build on the teachings of his predecessor, Pope Francis. He appealed to the cardinals of the church to take over the "valuable legacy" and identified artificial intelligence as the important challenge for the world of work and the "human dignity".

Pope Leo XIV: A new way

Pope Leo, born in Chicago as Robert Prevost, was elected the first US Pope on Thursday, much to the delight of many Catholics in America. In his first formal gathering with the cardinals, which began with a standing applause, he said that he had chosen his papal name to the path of Pope Leo XIII. to continue with the social questions in the context of the first industrial revolution.

a legacy of social justice

Pope Leo XIII, who ruled from 1878 to 1903, is known for his teachings on Catholic social teaching. In his famous open letter to all Catholics in 1891, called "Rerum Novarum" ("From Revolutionary Change"), he reflected on the destruction that the industrial revolution had caused in the life of the workers.

The challenge of the present

"In our own time, the church offers everyone the treasure of its social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and developments in the field of artificial intelligence, which represent new challenges for the protection of human dignity, justice and work," said the new American Pope on Saturday in fluent Italian.

continuation of the reforms and social engagement

In his white pope robes, he clearly signaled the cardinals that his leadership will build on the reforms of Pope Francis and his legacy of social justice. "It was clearly seen in the examples of many of my predecessors and most recently to Pope Francis himself, whose example of complete devotion shines on the service and the sober simplicity of life," said Leo.

a call for renewal

He asked the other senior church leaders to renew their commitment to the decisive second Vatican Council, which introduced far -reaching reforms in the church in the 1960s. These reforms were that the fair was allowed for the first time in state languages ​​and not in Latin.

missionary orientation and dialogue

Pope Leo outlined his vision that the church should be guided by a missionary orientation, growth in collegiality and synodality as well as brave dialogue with the contemporary world. The loving care for the least and rejected was also the focus of his speech.

with humility and fraternity

"You, dear cardinals, are the closest employees of the Pope. That gave me great consolation when I took a task that clearly goes far beyond my own limited forces, as was the case for all of us," added Leo.

A look into the future

Pope Leo will appear on the balcony of the pars basilica for a second time on Sunday to greet the crowd on the square below. His installation fair will take place on Sunday, May 18th, in the following week.

With his new tasks, Pope Leo XIV will aim to continue the legacy of his predecessor and at the same time to react to the challenges of the modern world, including progress in technology.