'Algorithms lack the spark of humanity' — Pope Leo XIV continues his anti-AI stance denouncing AI generated 'art'

Pope Leo XIV, the leader of the Catholic Church, has recently expressed his strong opposition to artificial intelligence (AI) and its generated art. In a post on X, the Pope emphasized the urgent need to distinguish human art from machine-produced creations. He argued that there is an ontological difference between art and AI-generated work, as algorithms lack the human touch that breathes life into art.

The Pope's stance on AI-generated art is not new; in May, he had already written an encyclical letter urging the Catholic Church to "disarm" AI. He stressed the importance of human dignity and cautioned against attempting to master the world's tides. The Pope's anti-AI sentiment extends to other matters as well, such as immigration and the war in Iran, where he has criticized President Donald Trump's policies.

Despite the Pope's strong anti-AI stance, companies like Anthropic continue to pitch AI as a solution for religious leaders. This week, the New York Times reported that Anthropic was attempting to convince Pope Leo XIV that AI, such as Claude, possesses consciousness. The Pope has not shied away from using his platform to voice his concerns about humanity's place in an increasingly AI-driven world.