U.S. bishops praise Leo’s encyclical on AI, echo concern for human dignity, common good

Catholic bishops in the United States reacted positively to Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, which touched on both concerns and hopes about the development of artificial intelligence (AI) with his focus being the dignity of the human person and the common good.

“Humanity, created by God in all its grandeur, is today facing a pivotal choice: either to construct a new Tower of Babel or to build the city in which God and humanity dwell together,” Leo said in Magnifica Humanitas, published May 25 and signed on May 15 — the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum.

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), issued a statement highlighting the significance of that date and noting that Rerum Novarum addressed social concerns and political movements related to the technological advancement experienced through the industrial revolution.

As Pope Leo XIII addressed the challenges of the industrial revolution, Coakley said, “our Holy Father shines the light of the Gospel and the tradition of the Church on the new opportunities and challenges posed by the rise of artificial intelligence.”

“The pope calls us to never lose sight of the inherent dignity of all human life and the moral imperative for technology to support peace and the common good rather than the limited interest of a few,” he added.

Coakley said Leo’s message is “a powerful reminder that no technology can replace a child of God, and all technology should be placed at the service of helping humanity thrive.” He said he and his fellow bishops will continue looking through the encyclical and encouraged “people of goodwill” to reflect and apply the teachings.

He said the bishops’ Committee on Doctrine will lead and coordinate further work from the bishops on AI development that reflects the Holy Father’s emphasis on human dignity.

Bishops discuss AI development

Several other bishops offered similar praise for the encyclical, emphasizing the importance of applying these values globally in the development of AI.

Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, issued a video message saying that Leo “wants to defend the dignity of humanity.” He said the Holy Father “knows we have a magnificence because of our creation and redemption and he worries about some of these dimensions of AI.”

He said Leo is concerned that among some people, “power is more important than truth” in the modern world, in which people are motivated by clicks and engagement online. He also echoed Leo’s concern about the development of knowledge, warning against allowing AI to replace the human mind in developing knowledge and expressing unease about AI replacing people in the workforce.

Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia said the rapid advancement of AI must be “accompanied by a moral and ethical framework that guides their usage.”

“While this powerful technology presents significant opportunities to advance healthcare, education, and share the good news of the Gospel, it also poses significant moral and ethical pitfalls that must be navigated and reflected upon,” Pérez said.

“Pope Leo emphasizes with crystal clarity that the sanctity of human life must remain paramount as artificial intelligence systems continue to develop and become more closely integrated into nearly every aspect of our lives,” he added.

Bishop William E. Koenig of the Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware, said the encyclical will “help us navigate this time of digital transition and both safeguard and nurture God’s gift of our magnificent humanity.”

“[It] leads us through the discernment of what is just and right for the common good of our shared humanity,” he added. “Pope Leo calls us not to judge our use of artificial intelligence merely by its effectiveness but rather the human, social, and spiritual bonds it enables or destroys.”

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, said in a statement that the encyclical is “welcome in this time of tremendous social and technological change, especially concerning artificial intelligence and the right use of such tools.”

“I encourage all to join me over the coming days to reading Magnifica Humanitas in its entirety and prayerfully considering all that the Holy Father shares,” he said.

Source: https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/us/bishops-discuss-leo-first-encyclical