The first American pope, Leo XIV, has emerged as a focal point for global AI regulation discussions, presenting a robust ethical vision suitable for the era of artificial intelligence (AI) shortly after his inauguration. There are also prospects that Leo XIV will meet directly with the heads of major corporations this week to discuss AI-related matters.
According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 18th (local time), Leo XIV has been emphasizing the need for ethical regulatory measures necessary for the AI era on a daily basis. In an official speech to the College of Cardinals on the 14th, he stated, "The AI revolution poses a fundamental challenge to human dignity, justice, and the order of labor," and added, "We will establish new ethics and norms necessary for the AI era based on the Church's 2,000 years of social doctrine."
Leo XIV, who is from Chicago, has made establishing regulations and ethics for AI a major task since his inauguration, asserting that "we must prevent scientific advancements from arrogantly harming humanity." This is interpreted as an indication that he continues the line of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who sought to build friendly relations with the AI industry while signaling a more proactive regulatory approach.
Previously, during the conclave held after the death of Pope Francis, AI was also a major issue. Cardinals from Europe raised concerns that AI is encroaching upon the faith space of modern individuals, while cardinals from Africa pointed out that the resource extraction supporting the AI industry leads to the exploitation of impoverished countries.
According to the WSJ, Leo XIV studied mathematics in college and is known to have a high understanding of the tech industry and technology, as well as a deep interest in the social impact of AI. His predecessor, Pope Francis, initially expressed a passive stance toward technological discussions, stating, "I don't even know how to handle a computer," but gradually recognized the risks of AI and took the lead in discussions on AI ethics.
In fact, global corporations have maintained close exchanges with the Vatican. Following discussions on the ethical use of technology with Pope Francis in 2016, Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), Tim Cook (Apple), and Eric Schmidt (Google) are reported to have led to the regular holding of unofficial high-level meetings at the Vatican. Initially, the major agenda was addressing digital exclusion, but recently discussions on AI ethics and social responsibility have emerged.
Therefore, there are also possibilities that Leo XIV will meet face-to-face with heads of global big tech such as Google and Microsoft (MS) this week. Currently, the Vatican is co-hosting an international conference with representatives of big tech corporations on AI ethics and corporate governance, and Leo XIV is expected to deliver a message in writing at the event. It has been reported that Google and MS are coordinating separate meeting schedules with Vatican officials.
However, the differences in positions between the Vatican and Silicon Valley regarding AI regulation remain. The Vatican is pursuing the preparation of an AI regulatory treaty with international binding force, which aligns with the trend of big tech regulation in the European Union (EU). In contrast, Silicon Valley is showing a hopeful atmosphere under the current Trump administration, which adopts an active deregulatory stance.
Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the abolition of AI regulation proposals promoted during the Biden administration and expressed a critical stance toward EU regulations. U.S. corporations also prefer voluntary ethical compliance rather than mandatory regulations.
In this context, the Vatican is expected to play a more active role in future global AI regulation discussions. Leo XIV stated, "There is no need to demonize AI," while also noting that "autonomous regulation by corporations alone is insufficient. Transnational authority and strong ethical norms are essential," indicating the direction for future efforts.