Catholic priests banned from using AI, reason revealed

Pope Leo XIV has banned Catholic priests from using artificial intelligence to prepare their sermons, warning that technology is threatening both the authenticity of preaching and the spiritual lives of young people.

Speaking on Thursday to the clergy of the Diocese of Rome, the 70-year-old pontiff emphasized that homilies must be grounded in real human experience, not generated by algorithms. He called on priests to know their communities deeply and to resist the “temptation to prepare homilies with artificial intelligence.”

“Like all the muscles in the body, if we do not use them, if we do not move them, they die,” the Pope said. “The brain needs to be used, so our intelligence must also be exercised a little so as not to lose this capacity.”

He stressed that a true homily is meant to share faith, something AI will never be able to replicate. Priests were urged to continue engaging with their communities personally, sharing experiences and understanding the realities of those they serve.

Pope Leo XIV also highlighted the growing loneliness among young people, intensified by smartphones and post-pandemic isolation. He urged priests to reach beyond the church walls, fostering personal connections through friendship, sports, arts, and cultural initiatives, to gradually guide young people toward faith.

The pontiff warned that this outreach requires time, sacrifice, and commitment, noting that many youths today face challenges such as drugs, crime, and violence, making personal engagement more critical than ever.