Recently, I found myself having one of those conversations that many parents will recognise. My children were asking why some of their friends have smartphones while they do not. It led to a discussion about social media, the internet and how technology can shape the way we see ourselves and others. As a parent, I know that my children are growing up in a world increasingly influenced by Artificial Intelligence and helping them navigate that world can sometimes feel daunting.
Yet these questions are not just for young people. Many of us are still learning how to use technology well. We have all experienced the benefits of being more connected, informed and productive. At the same time, many people are concerned about the impact technology can have on relationships, mental wellbeing and our understanding of what it means to be human. Stories of teenagers and adults turning to AI for companionship, advice or counselling raise important questions about how we build authentic human connections in an increasingly digital world.
Perhaps this is one reason why Pope Leo XIV chose Artificial Intelligence as the subject of his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas. Since the beginning of his pontificate, he has spoken frequently about the opportunities and challenges that AI presents. Like Pope Leo XIII before him, whose encyclical Rerum Novarum helped shape modern Catholic Social Teaching, Pope Leo XIV is inviting the Church to reflect on one of the defining issues of our age.
At the heart of Magnifica Humanitas is a profound affirmation of the dignity of every human person. Pope Leo reminds us that each of us is created, chosen and loved by God. Whatever advances technology may bring, this truth must remain our starting point.
The Pope writes: “The key issue is not the use of technology as such, but the vision that underlies it. If the human being is treated as something to be perfected or surpassed, it becomes easier to accept that some lives are less useful, less desirable or less worthy” (MH, 117).
These words challenge us to think carefully about the kind of society we are building. Technology is never neutral. It reflects our values, priorities and understanding of the human person. The question is not simply what AI can do, but what it should do, and whether it helps us to flourish as human beings.
While it would be easy to feel overwhelmed by the pace of change, Pope Leo’s message is ultimately one of hope. He reminds us that we believe in a Kingdom that can grow from the smallest mustard seed and invites us to work together to build a “Civilisation of Love”.
He points to practical ways of doing this: using words that heal rather than divide, building peace through justice, listening to those who suffer, renewing dialogue, and strengthening cooperation between peoples and nations. Above all, he reminds us that these efforts are sustained and nourished by prayer, noting that “Only to the extent that we are open to the Holy Spirit will these principles of Social Doctrine become incarnate in ecclesial life” (MH, 89).
In the concluding chapter, Pope Leo invites all believers “to contemplate, in the face of the Son of God, the grandeur of humanity that shines a light also on the era of AI” (MH, 233). That invitation is for all of us. As technology continues to develop, how can we ensure that it strengthens rather than weakens our relationships? How can it help us encounter one another more deeply, rather than retreat into isolation? And how can we use these new tools in ways that honour the dignity of every person?
Perhaps our task is not to fear the future, nor simply to embrace every innovation uncritically, but to keep our eyes fixed on Christ. In doing so, we can deepen our appreciation of the gift of human life, grow in communion with one another and with the Lord, and play our part in building a Civilisation of Love here in the Diocese of Middlesbrough.