Pope Leo XIV Unveils Vision for Papacy, Citing AI as Top Challenge for Humanity

On Saturday, Pope Leo XIV presented his vision for his papacy, emphasizing artificial intelligence as one of the key issues confronting mankind. He also committed to carrying forward several major objectives set during the tenure of Pope Francis.

However, to assert his personal stamp on the papacy, Leo ventured out for the first time since becoming pope. He visited a shrine located south of Rome, which honors the Virgin Mary and holds special importance for both his Augustinian order and his predecessor, Pope Leo XIII.

The residents of Genazzano assembled in the town square outside their principal church, where the Madre del Buon Consiglio (Mother of Good Counsel) sanctuary stands, as Leo made his appearance and warmly welcomed everyone present. This sanctuary, overseen by Augustinian friars for centuries, has long served as a site of devotion dating back to the 1400s. In earlier days, Pope Leo honored this location by designating it as a minor basilica and enlarging the neighboring monastery during the start of the twentieth century.

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Following his prayer session inside the church, Leo approached the local residents and conveyed that with the presence of the Madonna among them, they were bestowed not only with an honor but also with a duty. After imparting his blessings, he returned to sitting in the front passenger area of their vehicle—a black Volkswagen—and during their journey back to the Vatican, he took time out to stop and pray at Pope Francis’ burial site within the Saint Mary Major Basilica.

Following his initial official meeting as Pope, which was attended by the cardinals who had chosen him for the position, Leo went on an afternoon excursion. During this gathering, Leo frequently referenced Francis and the latter’s 2013 mission statement, emphasizing a dedication to fostering a more welcoming and responsive Catholic Church dedicated to serving all members of the congregation, particularly those who might feel marginalized or neglected.

Leo, the inaugural American pontiff, informed the cardinals that he wholeheartedly supported the changes brought about by the Second Vatican Council, those 1960s gatherings aimed at updating the Church. He pinpointed Artificial Intelligence as a key concern for humankind, noting that it presents difficulties in safeguarding human dignity, fairness, and employment.

Certain indicators of what’s to come start to show up.

Meanwhile, the Vatican gave insights into the upcoming papacy under Pope Leo: They disclosed on Saturday that he will keep his motto and coat of arms from his time as Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, which stress unity within the Church.

The slogan, “In Illo Uno Unum,” was articulated by Saint Augustine in a sermon to convey that “even though we Christians are numerous, within the single Christ, we form a unified body.” The symbol belongs to the Augustinian Order: a heart pierced by flame along with a book, which stands for the Holy Scripture.

The Vatican also shared information regarding the pectoral cross worn by Leo; it was presented to him by the Augustinian order upon his appointment as a cardinal in 2023. The cross holds relics of both Saint Augustine and his mother, Saint Monica, whose influence played an essential role in Augustine’s spiritual journey towards Christianity.

St. Augustine of Hippo stands out as a towering figure in both theology and devotion within early Christian history. Established during the 13th century, the Augustinian Order consists of mendicant friars committed to living in poverty, providing services, and spreading the gospel.

Identifying with Pope Francis

Leo cited AI when discussing why he chose his name; his namesake, Pope Leo XIII, served as pope from 1878 to 1903 and established the groundwork for contemporary Catholic social doctrine. This was particularly evident through his issuance of the 1891 encyclical titled “Rerum Novarum.” In this document, he tackled issues related to laborers’ rights and the impact of capitalism during the early stages of the Industrial Revolution. The former pontiff condemned both unregulated capitalism and government-dominated socialism, thereby contributing significantly to what became known as distinctively Catholic teachings within economics.

During his comments on Saturday, Leo mentioned that he felt a connection with the person who previously held his position.

“In our own day, the church offers everyone the treasury of its social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor,” he said.

Towards the conclusion of his papacy, Francis grew more outspoken regarding the dangers AI poses to humankind and advocated for an international agreement to oversee its development and use.

In numerous respects, Francis viewed the Chicago-native Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost as a potential successor: In 2014, he transferred him to lead a minor Peruvian diocese, where Prevost eventually assumed the role of bishop and chairman of the Peruvian bishops’ conference before being summoned to Rome in 2023 to oversee one of the key Vatican departments responsible for evaluating candidates for bishop positions.

In the speech, delivered in Italian in the Vatican’s synod hall — not the Apostolic Palace — Leo made repeated references to Francis and the mourning over his death. He held up Francis’ 2013 mission statement, “The Joy of the Gospel,” as something of his own marching orders.

He cited Francis’ insistence on the missionary nature of the church and the need to make its leadership more collegial. He cited the need to pay attention to what the faithful say “especially in its most authentic and inclusive forms, especially popular piety.”

Again, referring to Francis’ 2013 mission statement, Leo cited the need for the church to express “loving care for the least and rejected” and engage in courageous dialogue with the contemporary world.

A quick conclave

Greeted by a standing ovation, Leo read from his prepared text, only looking up occasionally. Even when he first appeared to the world on Thursday night, Leo read from a prepared, handwritten text in Italian that he must have drafted sometime before his historic election or the hour or so after. He seemed most comfortable speaking off-the-cuff in the few words he pronounced in Spanish.

On Thursday, Prevost was chosen as the 267th pope on the fourth vote during the papal conclave, which was remarkably swift considering this was both the biggest and widest-reaching conclave ever held; many cardinals did not know each other prior to coming to Rome.

Madagascar Cardinal Désiré Tsarahazana informed journalists on Saturday that Prevost garnered more than 100 out of the 133 votes cast on the last round of voting. This indicates an overwhelming majority, significantly surpassing the required two-thirds, which amounts to at least 89 votes needed for election.

A remark from a contestant

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State who was seen as a leading candidate for the papacy, expressed his congratulations on Saturday through a letter featured in his local newspaper, Il Giornale di Vicenza, which he hails from.

Parolin commended Leo’s understanding of current issues, remembering his initial remarks from the balcony about the necessity for a peace that is both “undefensive and unthreatening.” He also expressed appreciation for Prevost’s guidance in Chiclayo, mentioning howPrevost effectively managed a complex issue without providing specifics. Parolin further noted that this led him to value Prevost’s oversight even more during closer interactions within the Vatican concerning episcopal affairs.

Parolin particularly commended Leo’s grasp of human dynamics and circumstances, highlighting his “composure during discussions, impartiality when suggesting resolutions, along with his evident respect, concern, and affection for all.”

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