Pope Leo XIV warned against over-reliance on artificial intelligence apps and programs in an hour-long "digital visit" with the attendees at the National Catholic Youth Conference on Friday, November 21.
The Pope addressed the crowd of about 16,000 young people by video conference from the Vatican. Five young people from across the United States were selected to ask Pope Leo questions in a conversation that was moderated by Catholic speaker and author Katie Prejean McGrady.
Prejean McGrady added some spontaneous comments and questions, including if the Pope has a specific word with which he begins the NYT Wordle game and how he handles distractions in prayer. (He said he doesn't have a specific Wordle starting word.)
The encounter was billed as the Pope's first livestream event; Archbishop Nelson Perez said at the end that he hopes it was just a start -- and that soon the Holy Father would visit the USA in person. Leo responded with a smile.
Youth with questions
Micah Alcisto, from the Diocese of Honolulu, Hawaii, noted that he and many others in his generation rely on artificial intelligence (AI) programs in their everyday lives, "in things such as our schoolwork, like writing a good essay or walking us through a math problem or answering a history question."
"So, Holy Father, what do you think we should be cautious of when embracing this new technology?" asked Alcisto.
Pope Leo said he was "really glad" to be asked about AI, which is "becoming one of the defining features of our time." The Pope remarked that the Vatican recently hosted a conference about protecting children and teenagers in the digital world.
"I encouraged the participants to create policies that will keep you safe, keep all of us safe, from the risks that come with AI," said Pope Leo.
But, said the Pope, "Safety is not only about rules. It's about education, and it's about personal responsibility."
While safety features such as filters and guidelines can help someone avoid danger on the internet, "they cannot make choices for you," said Pope Leo. "Only you can do that."
The teenage years are meant to help a person grow into "mature adults," on spiritual and intellectual levels, he said. This means a person has to learn to "think clearly, think critically, to examine reality and search for truth, beauty, and goodness."
"It also means strengthening your will, with God's grace, so you can freely choose what helps you grow, (and) avoid what harms you," said Pope Leo.
Everything in the world, including AI tools, "should support that journey, not weaken it. Using AI responsibly means using it in ways that help you grow, never in ways that distract you from your dignity or your call to holiness."
While AI can certainly process vast amounts of information quickly, it "cannot replace intelligence" that is inherent to humanity.
"And don't ask it to do your homework for you," he said with a smile, drawing laughter from the thousands of young people.
AI programs lack the ability to truly discern right from wrong, and do not have the capacity to offer real wisdom in the way that humans can, said Pope Leo. It also can not experience wonder at God's creation.
"So, be prudent, be careful, be wise that the use of AI does not limit your true human growth. Use it in such a way that if it disappeared tomorrow, you would still know how to think, how to create, how to act on your own, how to form authentic friendships" he said.
"Remember: AI can never replace the unique gift that you are to the world."
Pope Leo advises on human interaction, hope, future
Throughout the conversation, Pope Leo repeatedly encouraged attendees to deepen their relationship with Christ, who will "always welcome you home."
We "cannot give our problems to someone we barely know," he said. In order to fully entrust one's struggles to Jesus, "we have to spend time with Him in prayer, and we have to have a relationship with Him." During a busy day, a person should "look for those little spaces of time where we can be with Jesus."
While Pope Leo appeared to the conference through the use of technology, he told attendees to be aware that "technology can never replace real in-person relationships," and that they need to "be intentional with your screen time" like St. Carlo Acutis was.
"Make sure technology serves your life, and not the other way around," he said.
The Pope also encouraged the young people in their role in the Church.
Young people, said Pope Leo, are both the future and the present of the Church.
"Your ideas (...) matter right now," he said.
Pope Leo challenged the young people in attendance to look to the "marvelous example" of everyday holiness from St. Pier Giorgio Frassatti, who died at the age of 24.
"So, I invite you to reflect on these questions: What can I offer the Church for the future? How can I help others come to know Christ? How can I build peace and friendship around me?"
These questions, said Pope Leo, "are for today."
"And I believe your 'yes' will strengthen the Church now, and in the years to come."
The National Catholic Youth Conference is an annual event. This year, the conference is being held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
It began on Thursday, November 20, and continues through Saturday, November 22.
