The pope urged priests to resist using AI to prepare homilies and to genuinely connect with communities and their peers.
VATICAN CITY, — Pope Leo XIV urged priests not to fall into the “temptation” of using artificial intelligence to prepare their homilies during a conversation with the clergy of the Diocese of Rome on Thursday.
The closed-door meeting, which the Vatican News described as an “open and sincere one,” consisted of the pope giving an address, then answering questions from the clergy.
During the session, the pope encouraged priests to understand the first step of pastoral work, which he said was “truly knowing the community where I am called to serve.”
This turned into a conversation about the use of AI and internet use.
“Like all the muscles in the body, if we do not use them, if we do not move them, they die,” he said. “The brain needs to be used, so our intelligence must also be exercised a little so as not to lose this capacity.”
“To give a homily is to share faith,” he added, and AI “will never be able to share faith.”
He also encouraged the clergy that seeking “illusion on the internet, on TikTok,” through likes and attention cannot replace authentic spiritual connection.
Pope Leo urged his listeners to continue learning and studying to counteract reliance on and temptation of AI.
“Study in our life must be permanent, continuous. When I hear someone tell me — this is true, a priest told me this — ‘I have not opened a book since I left the seminary,'” he said. “My goodness, I thought, how sad.”
He also said studying and learning could be done alongside companions or a group of friends who can “reflect together.”
His warnings about the tech came as the Vatican plans to debut a translation system — assisted by artificial intelligence — to allow attendees to follow liturgical celebrations in St. Peter’s Basilica in 60 languages live.
