“Like all the muscles in the body, if we do not use them, if we do not move them, they die. The brain needs to be used, so our intelligence must also be exercised a little so as not to lose this capacity.” That’s the message from Pope Leo XIV.
Writing in the Vatican News, Salvatore Cernuzio reports that in a closed-door meeting with Rome’s clergy on 19 February, the Pope warned against “the temptation to prepare homilies with Artificial Intelligence”
Going further, he said, “Like all the muscles in the body, if we do not use them, if we do not move them, they die. The brain needs to be used, so our intelligence must also be exercised a little so as not to lose this capacity,” He went on, “to give a true homily is to share faith,” and AI will never be able to share faith.
Don’t chase likes on TikTok
The Pope also told priests not to seek likes on TikTok.
That instruction came during the same conversation about AI-generated homilies, and the connection is deliberate.
He called it “an illusion on the internet, on TikTok” to think you are truly offering yourself by accumulating “likes” and “followers.” His point wasn’t “don’t use the internet,” but that validation metrics can quietly replace the actual goal (transmitting the Gospel), until the messenger becomes the product.
So what do priests say?
I had to go back a few years to find this interview with Fr John Cush who spoke to Currents News’, a Catholic YouTube Channel, Katie Vasquez.
AI is everywhere, and it’s a choice whether you embrace it or not. But one thing is for sure, AI is not humanity. As Pope Leo told priests, people want to see their faith, their personal experience of Christ, something that cannot be downloaded.
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About the Podcast Host
AI and Communications Specialist | Author | Podcaster | International Speaker
Joanne Sweeney is a recognised leader in digital marketing and digital transformation, specialising in the practical application of AI to enhance communication strategies. The founder of Digital Training Institute, Joanne, empowers leaders and communications professionals to leverage AI responsibly and effectively, ensuring transparency, trust, and tangible results.
She completed the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Programme in AI and Public Policy this summer before launching her fourth book AI Playbook, in September. Joanne has also published two editions of Public Sector Marketing Pro, which were preceded by her first title, Social Media Under Investigation Law Enforcement and the Social Web.
Her books have become go-to resources for governments, public sector and policing agencies, as well as marketing and communications professionals, all navigating the challenges of the changing Internet.
Joanne is the host of the AI SIX Podcast, a daily six-minute podcast that provides actionable insights, expert interviews, and practical advice to help professionals navigate the new world of work.
