VATICAN CITY, June 20, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Pope Leo XIV warned on Friday of the 
potential consequences of artificial intelligence (AI) on the intellectual 
development of young people, saying it could damage their grip on reality.

Since his election as head of the Catholic Church on May 8, the pope -- a 
mathematics graduate -- has repeatedly warned of the risks associated with AI 
but this is the first time he has spoken out exclusively on the subject.

"All of us... are concerned for children and young people, and the possible 
consequences of the use of AI on their intellectual and neurological 
development," the American pope warned in a written message to participants 
at the second Rome Conference on AI.

"No generation has ever had such quick access to the amount of information 
now available through AI. 

"But again, access to data -- however extensive -- must not be confused with 
intelligence," Leo told business leaders, policymakers and researchers 
attending the annual conference.

While welcoming the use of AI in "enhancing research in healthcare and 
scientific discovery", the pope said it "raises troubling questions on its 
possible repercussions" on humanity's "distinctive ability to grasp and 
process reality".

Pope Leo himself has been the target of deep fake videos and audio messages 
published on social media in recent weeks.

An AFP investigation earlier this month identified dozens of YouTube and 
TikTok pages broadcasting AI-generated messages masquerading as genuine 
comments from the pope in English or Spanish.

A survey from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism this week 
found significant numbers of young people in particular were using chatbots 
to get headlines and updates.
The Catholic Church has attempted to influence ethical thinking surrounding 
the use of new technologies in recent years under Leo's predecessor Francis.
In 2020, the Vatican initiated the Rome Call for AI Ethics -- signed by 
Microsoft, IBM, the United Nations, Italy and a host of universities -- 
urging transparency and respect for privacy.