Pope Leo XIV Fears Our Love for AI Will Leave Us Starving for Real Connection

These days, AI is woven into the fabric of daily life. It is a core part of many social media platforms, a standard tool in office software, and a frequent fixture on the billboards we pass on the street.

When Code Mimics Companionship

Automated chat tools are now a staple of the internet, serving as advanced search systems or even as digital confidants for those looking to share their thoughts and feelings.

This shift has gone so far that some users are forming romantic ties with these programs; for instance, one individual proposed to an AI assistant despite having a family at home, while another woman entered an 'engagement' with a personality she designed using ChatGPT.

So deep is the influence of artificial intelligence on today's world that Pope Leo XIV addressed the issue in a letter to the Catholic Church. He cautioned that this technology has the potential to seriously harm our private connections, our ability to think for ourselves, and our overall psychological well-being.

In a public letter released for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Leo XIV suggested that AI is moving toward altering 'radically some of the fundamental pillars of human civilisation that at times are taken for granted.' He believes these shifts threaten the very core of how we live together.

The Risk of Outsourcing Our Thoughts

He criticised the way many people show a 'naive and unquestioning reliance on artificial intelligence as an omniscient 'friend.' The Pope cautioned that letting AI do our 'thinking' for us may lead to a disastrous decline in both social skills and independent logic. According to him, this trend 'can further erode our ability to think analytically and creatively, to understand meaning and distinguish between syntax and semantics.'

The Pope drew particular attention to 'virtual influencers', noting that the lifelike way chatbots converse can be misleading, particularly for those who are most 'vulnerable'. He explained that because these language models are designed to mimic human interaction and adapt to the user, they can effectively simulate a real relationship.

He cautioned that since chatbots are always available and appear remarkably 'affectionate', they can subtly shape our moods and move into our private lives. Ultimately, he believes that technology, which feeds on our desire for companionship, can cause deep personal pain and tear at the social, cultural, and political ties that hold us together.

A Call for AI Literacy

While he stopped short of condemning AI entirely, the Pope championed greater media education to ensure users don't let these programs distort their perspective. He specifically highlighted the threat of AI-generated deepfakes, warning that they can be used to 'violate people's privacy and intimacy without their consent.'

He finished by stating that we must return to a world where real faces and voices speak for others, viewing communication as a sacred human trait that all new technology should aim to support.

A Modern Pope in a Digital World

Pope Leo XIV has built a reputation as a contemporary figure who stays in touch with modern trends. In 2025, he famously named the first millennial saint 'God's Influencer' in recognition of his digital missionary work.

Later that same year, he even opened a rave celebrating an archbishop's birthday—an event that featured a priest behind the DJ decks.