The Pope Is Already Talking About Digital Transformation - And Here's Why It Matters

We have a new Pope, and Pope Leo XIV is already becoming one of my favorite figures just a month into his papacy.

Beyond welcoming Napoli after their Serie A victory (which, as a huge football fan, I absolutely loved), he’s been addressing AI and digital transformation with a perspective that I think we desperately need right now.

The Significance Behind His Papal Name

What really strikes me is the idea behind his choice of papal name. Leo XIV specifically chose to honor Pope Leo XIII, who led the Catholic Church during the Industrial Revolution and created groundbreaking social teachings, including the encyclical “Rerum Novarum,” which addressed how Catholics should navigate massive economic and social changes.

By choosing this name, Leo XIV is clearly signaling that he recognizes we’re living through another Revolution - this time driven by AI and digital technology. As someone who is both Catholic and works in the tech field, this approach gives me genuine hope.

Why This Should Matter to Everyone

When the Pope starts discussing AI, it’s worth paying attention regardless of your religious background. Leo XIV has been explicit that artificial intelligence presents “new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor.” This isn’t fear-mongering about technology - it’s thoughtful engagement with real challenges.

His message is fundamentally about ensuring that AI serves humanity rather than replacing it. It’s not about halting progress, but about making sure that progress actually benefits society as a whole.

The Broader Implications

Having a Pope address AI and digital transformation for labors and markets signals that these technological changes affect everyone. From this topic, there are a few questions we need to ask ourselves as someone who uses technology everyday:

• How do we ensure AI development includes ethical considerations alongside technical innovation?
• How do we protect workers and human dignity as automation advances?
• How do we navigate an information landscape increasingly filled with AI-generated content?

What This Means for Us Individually

I think the Pope’s message translates into some practical guidance for how we should approach this technological moment:

Develop stronger critical thinking skills. With AI generating more content across all platforms, we need to become better at evaluating the information we consume. That means being more critical, more skeptical and doing more fact-checking.

Be intentional about our technology use. Whether we’re building AI systems or simply using social media, our individual choices contribute to how this technology shapes society. We have a responsibility to use these tools thoughtfully.

Engage constructively with change. Rather than either fearing AI or accepting it uncritically, we should approach these developments with both openness and wisdom.

Why I’m Encouraged

Working in technology, I see both the incredible potential and genuine risks that the current stage of technolody presents, especially artificial intelligence. Having a religious leader who understands these nuances - who neither dismisses technology nor embraces it blindly - feels like exactly the kind of leadership we need.

Pope Leo XIV seems to understand that we’re navigating a historical shift comparable to what people experienced during the first Industrial Revolution. The core message isn’t anti-technology or pro-technology - it’s about being thoughtful and intentional about how we develop and deploy these powerful tools.

Moving Forward

Seeing the Pope engage seriously with AI this early in his papacy suggests we’re finally having the conversations we need to have. These aren’t just technical questions - they’re fundamentally human questions about what kind of society we want to build.

I’m curious about your thoughts on this. Are you surprised to see religious leaders engaging with AI development? How do you think we should balance technological innovation with ensuring that progress serves human flourishing?

The fact that we have leaders willing to grapple seriously with these questions gives me hope that we can navigate this technological transformation thoughtfully and responsibly.