The Church and AI
(Last of a series)
Last week, we reflected on some Church teachings regarding artificial intelligence (AI), as expressed by Pope Leo XIV. But he is not the first Pope to give guidance on this societal, technological and economic shift.
His predecessor, the beloved Pope Francis, released a note entitled “Antiqua et Nova” (“Ancient and New”) on Jan. 28, the feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas, patron saint of philosophers and scholars. The (perhaps surprisingly) technical document attempts to distinguish humans from AI, grounded in both Catholic theology and a good grasp of computer science.
It reads: “Many tasks once managed exclusively by humans are now entrusted to AI. These systems can augment or even supersede what humans are able to do in many fields, particularly in specialized areas such as data analysis, image recognition, and medical diagnosis… AI excels at integrating data from a variety of fields, modeling complex systems, and fostering interdisciplinary connections. In this way, it can help experts collaborate in solving complex problems.
“[However,] human intelligence is not primarily about completing functional tasks but about understanding and actively engaging with reality in all its dimensions; it is also capable of surprising insights. Since AI lacks the richness of corporeality, relationality and the openness of the human heart to truth and goodness, its capacities—though seemingly limitless—are incomparable with the human ability to grasp reality.
“Drawing an overly close equivalence between human intelligence and AI risks succumbing to a functionalist perspective, where people are valued based on the work they can perform. However, a person’s worth does not depend on possessing specific skills, cognitive and technological achievements, or individual success, but on the person’s inherent dignity, grounded in being created in the image of God.
“In light of this, AI should not be seen as an artificial form of human intelligence, but as a product of it.”
Pope Leo picked up where his predecessor left off, turning his attention directly to the technologists building AI. “Technological innovation can be a form of participation in the divine act of creation,” he posted on social media platform X. “It carries an ethical and spiritual weight, for every design choice expresses a vision of humanity. The Church therefore calls all builders of AI to cultivate moral discernment as a fundamental part of their work—to develop systems that reflect justice, solidarity and a genuine reverence for life.”
I appreciate how Pope Leo, like Francis before him, brings the Church into conversation with the world at large. As a counterpoint to his technological critiques, Pope Leo takes time to spotlight the arts as an outlet of human creativity and therefore as expressions of faith.
On music, he says: “Singing constitutes a natural and refined expression of the human being: mind, feelings, body and soul come together to communicate the great events of life. As St. Augustine reminded us: ‘singing belongs to those who love.’”
On movies: “One of cinema’s most valuable contributions is helping audiences consider their own lives, look at the complexity of their experiences with new eyes and examine the world as if for the first time. In doing so, they rediscover a portion of the hope that is essential for humanity to live to the fullest.”
And on entrepreneurship and business, itself a creative act: “The world needs honest and courageous entrepreneurs and communicators who care for the common good. We sometimes hear the saying: ‘Business is business!’ In reality, it is not so. No one is absorbed by an organization to the point of becoming a mere cog or a simple function. Nor can there be true humanism without a critical sense, without the courage to ask questions: ‘Where are we going? For whom and for what are we working? How are we making the world a better place?”
Queena N. Lee-Chua is on the board of directors of Ateneo’s Family Business Center. Get her print book “All in the Family Business” at Lazada or Shopee or e-book at Amazon, Google Play, Apple iBooks. Contact the author at blessbook.chua@gmail.com.
