PRESERVING HUMAN VOICES AND FACES

Pope Leo: 

Technology must serve the human person, not replace it

 

In his message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Leo XIV highlights the importance of ensuring that technological innovation, particularly artificial intelligence, serves the human person rather than replacing or diminishing human dignity.

 

Vatican News

 Face and voice are unique traits of every person and form the foundation of human identity and relationships. Reflecting on this truth, Pope Leo XIV introduces his Message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, which will be celebrated on 17 May 2026, with a focus on digital communication and artificial intelligence, highlighting the need to protect human dignity in an age increasingly shaped by technological innovation.

Human beings, the Pope recalls, are created in the image and likeness of God and called into relationship through the Word. Safeguarding faces and voices, therefore, means protecting the divine imprint present in each person and upholding the irreplaceable vocation of every human life.

The anthropological challenge of technology

The Pope warns that digital technologies, especially artificial intelligence systems capable of simulating voices, faces, and emotions, risk altering essential dimensions of human communication.

The challenge, he stresses, is not primarily technological but anthropological; it is a matter of protecting human identity and authentic relationships.

He draws attention to the impact of social media algorithms that prioritise rapid emotional reactions over reflection, weakening critical thinking and fostering social polarisation.

The growing reliance on artificial intelligence for information, creativity, and decision-making, he adds, also risks diminishing analytical skills, imagination, and personal responsibility.

Reality, simulation, and social impact

Pope Leo highlights the difficulty of distinguishing between reality and simulation in digital environments, where automated agents and chatbots can influence public debate and individual choices, shaping emotional responses and personal interactions.

Such dynamics, he notes, may affect not only individuals but also social and cultural life.

Responsibility, cooperation, and education

To address these challenges, the Pope identifies responsibility, cooperation, and education as essential pillars. Technology developers, political authorities, media professionals, and educators are called to promote transparency, safeguard human dignity, and ensure the integrity of information.

 Collaboration among institutions and sectors, he writes, is required to guide digital innovation toward the common good.

Media literacy and digital awareness

Finally, Pope Leo underlines the importance of education in media, information, and artificial intelligence literacy, fostering critical awareness, protecting personal identity, and supporting a responsible culture of communication.

Renewed care for face and voice, he concludes, remains central to preserving the human dimension of communication and orienting technological progress to the service of the human person.

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