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Pope urges focus on digital revolution in first address to College of Cardinals

Diane Duenez (Weekend Managing Editor)

Summary

Pope's first speech emphasizes digital age

In his first formal address to the College of Cardinals, Pope Leo XIV called for the church to engage deeply with the digital revolution and artificial intelligence, echoing the social teachings of Pope Leo XIII, who oversaw the church during the first industrial revolution.

Tribute to Francis and Marian devotion

The pope honored his predecessor, Pope Francis, for his humility and service, later visiting Marian shrines in Genazzano and St. Mary Major, where he prayed at Francis' tomb and before sacred icons.

First US pope

Leo XIV is the first pope to be elected from America, and brings with him years of experience doing missionary work in Peru.

Pope Leo XIV made his first formal address to the College of Cardinals on Saturday, focusing on the risks of the digital revolution.
Image credit: Vatican Media via AP
This recording was made using enhanced software.

Summary

Pope's first speech emphasizes digital age

In his first formal address to the College of Cardinals, Pope Leo XIV called for the church to engage deeply with the digital revolution and artificial intelligence, echoing the social teachings of Pope Leo XIII, who oversaw the church during the first industrial revolution.

Tribute to Francis and Marian devotion

The pope honored his predecessor, Pope Francis, for his humility and service, later visiting Marian shrines in Genazzano and St. Mary Major, where he prayed at Francis' tomb and before sacred icons.

First US pope

Leo XIV is the first pope to be elected from America, and brings with him years of experience doing missionary work in Peru.

Full story

Pope Leo XIV made his first formal address to the College of Cardinals on Saturday, May 10. His message focused on the need to pay close attention to the digital revolution.

Reflecting on the words of his previous namesake, Leo XIII, who served as pope from 1878 to 1903 and oversaw the first industrial revolution, Leo XIV said, “Today, the Church offers to all her treasure of social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and the developments of artificial intelligence.” 

The pope paid tribute to his direct predecessor, remembering Pope Francis’ simplicity and his radical dedication to service. “Let us treasure this precious legacy and resume our journey,” he said, “animated by the same hope that comes from faith.”

For his first trip outside the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV chose to visit the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano. The shrine is home to an ancient image of the Virgin Mary and was much loved by Pope Leo XIII.

On the way back to the Vatican, Pope Leo stopped at St. Mary Major, where he paused in prayer before the tomb of Pope Francis and the icon of the Virgin Mary, the Holy See Press Office reported.

The last time Pope Leo XIV had prayed at Francis’ tomb was when, under his former identity as Cardinal Robert Prevost, he joined members of the College of Cardinals and went to the papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major after it had just been open to the public.

After several secretive gatherings among 133 cardinals following the death of Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV was named on Thursday, May 8.

The 69-year-old was born in Chicago and became a missionary, spending much of his career in Peru as a minister. He was also the prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery of Bishops starting in 2023 under Pope Francis. He was then promoted to cardinal-bishop in February by the former pope.

The selection of Prevost, a citizen from a world “superpower,” is a rare one, as the Vatican has largely gone the other direction in its selection of new popes.

Prevost’s familial roots trace back to Italian, French and Spanish ancestors.

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Why this story matters

Pope Leo XIV's inaugural address highlights the Catholic Church's intention to engage with the challenges posed by artificial intelligence while emphasizing continuity with his predecessor Pope Francis and a commitment to social justice and church reform.

Artificial intelligence

Pope Leo XIV identified artificial intelligence as a major challenge facing humanity, emphasizing the need to address its ethical and social consequences, particularly regarding human dignity, justice and labor.

Continuity and reform

The new pope signaled a strong commitment to continuing the church reforms begun by Pope Francis, pledging to maintain an inclusive and modernized direction for the Catholic Church.

Social teaching

Drawing on the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, Pope Leo XIV underscored the relevance of the church's social doctrine in navigating contemporary issues, especially those emerging from rapid technological and societal changes.

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Synthesized coverage insights across 181 media outlets

Context corner

Historical references are made to Pope Leo XIII's encyclical, Rerum Novarum, which addressed the social upheavals of the first industrial revolution. Pope Leo XIV draws a parallel between those times and today’s challenges with AI, suggesting that the Church’s role remains to guide society through major technological and ethical shifts.

Diverging views

Articles in the left category emphasize Pope Leo XIV’s continuity with Pope Francis and his prioritization of inclusivity, social justice, and reforms. In contrast, right-leaning articles focus more on the pope’s traditionalism, moral guidance during rapid technological changes, and his alignment with historical Catholic social thought, stressing continuity with the church’s doctrinal positions.

Global impact

Pope Leo XIV’s emphasis on artificial intelligence is portrayed as not just a local or institutional concern but a global one, affecting human dignity, labor, and justice worldwide. His remarks call for international dialogue and reflect the Vatican’s influence on global ethical and social debates, especially regarding rapidly advancing technology.

Sources

  1. Holy See Press Office

Bias comparison

  • Media outlets on the left frame Pope Leo XIV’s identification of AI foremost as a profound ethical challenge to human dignity, labor, and justice, emphasizing inclusion and social justice with emotionally resonant language, underscoring AI’s threat to marginalized groups.
  • Not enough coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
  • Media outlets on the right highlight the pope’s traditional and formal style, portraying him as a stabilizing figure responding cautiously to AI’s disruption, deploying sober, occasionally skeptical language and referencing cultural evils like exorcism to evoke a defense of Christian values.

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Media landscape

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181 total sources

Key points from the Left

  • Pope Leo XIV identified artificial intelligence as a critical challenge for humanity during his first formal audience.
  • He expressed commitment to the modernizing reforms of Pope Francis and the Second Vatican Council.
  • Leo emphasized the church's social teachings and its role in defending human dignity, justice, and labor in light of advances in artificial intelligence.
  • He referenced Pope Leo XIII's encyclical Rerum Novarum, which tackled workers' rights during the industrial age.

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Key points from the Center

  • Pope Leo XIV outlined his papacy vision on Saturday in Rome, identifying artificial intelligence as a critical challenge for humanity.
  • His election came after Pope Francis increasingly emphasized the dangers of AI and urged the establishment of a global agreement to oversee its development and application.
  • Leo committed to upholding key priorities set by Pope Francis and highlighted how advancements in AI during this new industrial era raise important concerns about protecting human rights, fairness, and workers’ well-being.
  • On the fourth conclave ballot, Leo, the first American pope, received more than 100 votes, surpassing the 89 needed, and committed to Vatican II reforms.
  • He called on the Catholic Church to lead in addressing AI's threats, identifying with Pope Leo XIII who focused on workers during the earlier industrial era.

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Key points from the Right

  • Pope Leo XIV identified artificial intelligence as a major challenge for humanity, emphasizing the need to defend human dignity, justice, and labor.
  • He committed to continuing the reforms of Pope Francis and the mission of the Second Vatican Council, emphasizing the need for an inclusive church.
  • Pope Leo XIV expressed a desire to maintain a church that supports the marginalized and rejected, focusing on courageous dialogue with the contemporary world.
  • He noted that his papal name pays homage to Pope Leo XIII, who addressed social issues during the first industrial revolution.

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Timeline

  • White smoke piped from the Sistine Chapel chimney May 8, signaling to the world that a new pope has been elected to lead the Catholic Church.
    REUTERS/DYLAN MARTINEZ
    International
    May 8

    The world has a new pope: Leo XIV, an American

    After secretive gatherings among 133 cardinals following the death of Pope Francis, the world has a new pope. The new pope is former Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States, making him the first American pope in world history. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV. The 69-year-old Prevost was born in Chicago and…

  • Following Pope Francis' death on Monday, April 21, speculation is swirling about who will lead the Catholic Church next.
    Getty Images
    International
    Apr 22

    Who are the likely candidates to succeed Pope Francis?

    Following Pope Francis’ death on Monday, April 21, speculation is swirling about who will lead the Catholic Church next. News outlets across the globe are sharing their predictions, but the decision remains shrouded in secrecy. Cardinals are arriving at the Vatican as preparations begin for Francis’ funeral on Saturday, April 26. The Vatican is also…

Sources

  1. Holy See Press Office

Timeline

  • White smoke piped from the Sistine Chapel chimney May 8, signaling to the world that a new pope has been elected to lead the Catholic Church.
    REUTERS/DYLAN MARTINEZ
    International
    May 8

    The world has a new pope: Leo XIV, an American

    After secretive gatherings among 133 cardinals following the death of Pope Francis, the world has a new pope. The new pope is former Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States, making him the first American pope in world history. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV. The 69-year-old Prevost was born in Chicago and…

  • Following Pope Francis' death on Monday, April 21, speculation is swirling about who will lead the Catholic Church next.
    Getty Images
    International
    Apr 22

    Who are the likely candidates to succeed Pope Francis?

    Following Pope Francis’ death on Monday, April 21, speculation is swirling about who will lead the Catholic Church next. News outlets across the globe are sharing their predictions, but the decision remains shrouded in secrecy. Cardinals are arriving at the Vatican as preparations begin for Francis’ funeral on Saturday, April 26. The Vatican is also…