Pope Leo XIV has prohibited priests from using artificial intelligence to prepare sermons, arguing that AI will “never be able” to convey faith or speak to God.
The 70-year-old pontiff delivered the message during a closed-door meeting with clergymen from the Diocese of Rome on Thursday, February 26. After his address, he participated in a question-and-answer session with four priests of varying ages.
When asked by a parish priest how to minister effectively in a postmodern world without reverting to “anachronistic” methods, Pope Leo emphasized the importance of truly knowing the community one serves. Recalling a visit to the southern Rome neighborhood of Ostia, he explained: “To speak with these people, we must begin by knowing their reality as deeply as possible.”
He urged priests to remain engaged in real-life experiences and warned against relying on AI or the internet to prepare homilies. “Like all the muscles in the body, if we do not use them, if we do not move them, they die,” he said. “The brain needs to be used, so our intelligence must also be exercised so as not to lose this capacity.”
Pope Leo stressed that giving a true homily means sharing one’s faith, something AI cannot do. “People want to see your faith, your experience of having known and loved Jesus Christ,” he said. “To offer a service inculturated in the parish, you must bring your personal witness.”
The Pope also addressed younger priests, emphasizing outreach beyond those already attending church. He encouraged initiatives involving sports, art, and culture to engage youth. “We must go ourselves, invite young people, go out into the streets with them, perhaps offer different ways,” he said.
Highlighting the challenges of isolation and loneliness, particularly after the pandemic and due to smartphones, Pope Leo urged priests to form genuine friendships. “They live at a distance from others, a coldness, without knowing the richness of truly human relationships,” he said. Through these personal connections, priests can offer young people a path to shared experiences, community, and ultimately, knowledge of Jesus.
