Pope Leo XIV Urges Clergy to Reject AI for Sermon Writing
Pope Leo XIV has issued a direct appeal to Catholic priests, urging them to resist the growing "temptation" to utilise artificial intelligence in the preparation of their sermons. The pontiff, who made history as the first head of the Catholic Church to originate from the United States, delivered this message during a closed-door assembly with the clergy of the Diocese of Rome on February 19.
The details of this meeting, where the pope engaged in a question-and-answer session with attending priests, were subsequently disclosed the following day and reported by Vatican News. In his address, Pope Leo XIV emphasised that delivering a homily is fundamentally an act of sharing faith, a capacity he argued artificial intelligence inherently lacks.
"Use Your Brains More," Pope Advises
The pontiff explicitly encouraged his fellow clergymen to "use your brains more," drawing a vivid analogy to physical fitness. "Like all the muscles in the body, if we do not use them, if we do not move them, they die," he cautioned. "The brain needs to be used, so our intelligence must also be exercised a little so as not to lose this capacity."
This directive forms part of a broader critique of modern digital distractions. The 70-year-old pope also targeted social media platforms, advising clergy to be wary of chasing virtual validation through "likes" and "followers" on platforms such as TikTok, which he described as an "illusion on the internet."
Historical Context and Political Commentary
Pope Leo XIV's choice of papal name is deeply connected to his views on technology and social justice. He has cited Pope Leo XIII, whose landmark encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social upheavals of the first industrial revolution, as a key inspiration. Leo XIV positions the Church's social teaching as a vital response to the contemporary challenges posed by the new industrial revolution centred on artificial intelligence, which he believes threatens human dignity, justice, and labour.
Beyond theological matters, the pope has not shied away from political commentary, particularly regarding his birth country, the United States. His tenure has been marked by:
- Repeated criticism of the Trump administration, leading some MAGA Republicans to label him as "woke."
- Declining an invitation to join Trump's Board of Peace.
- Warning of a dangerous new era of "diplomacy based on force."
- Asserting that immigrants face "inhumane treatment" in the U.S., a claim the White House has contested.
His political engagement predates his papacy. In February 2025, then-Cardinal Leo challenged Vice President JD Vance's interpretation of Christian doctrine to justify immigration policies. Vance argued for prioritising family and neighbours before the wider world, to which Leo countered, "Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others."
The Independent has reached out to the Association of United States Catholic Priests for their perspective on the pope's latest remarks concerning artificial intelligence and clerical duties.
