Wake up, everyone: we have a new Pope! Pope Leo XIV was elected on May 8, marking a historic occasion as he became the first American to hold this position. He recently addressed the College of Cardinals, sharing that his papal name was chosen in light of the pressing issues surrounding technology and artificial intelligence.(source: Ars Technica)

The Pope’s birth name is Robert Prevost, but traditional customs allowed him to select a papal name. He chose “Leo” as a homage to the Pope who led during the industrial revolution, and to reference Pope Francis’s concerns regarding technological advancements.

“I feel a calling to continue the path set by Pope Francis, so I selected the name Leo XIV,” the Pope stated. “The selection reflects the guidance provided by Pope Leo XIII’s Encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed social issues during the first industrial revolution.”

Pope Leo XIV indicated that AI represents another phase of the industrial revolution, necessitating similar papal guidance. Pope Francis initially raised concerns about AI technology in his World Day of Peace address in August 2023 and revisited these ideas in his essay Antiqua et Nova.

As the Pope noted, “As with all realms where humans must make decisions, potential for wrongdoing exists, and the moral dimensions of this technology must be taken into account.”

In his commentary, the Pope stressed that, akin to the impact of the industrial revolution on traditional lifestyles, AI will also alter our existence, possibly in detrimental ways. He also underscored the Church’s commitment to confronting these challenges in defense of human dignity, justice, and labor.