Vatican City: The Holy See is fighting an uphill battle against a flood of digitally manipulated videos and images falsely portraying Pope Leo XIV making controversial statements. The Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication has confirmed that hundreds of AI-generated “deepfake” clips have emerged across social media platforms, particularly YouTube, since the start of his pontificate earlier this year.
Deepfakes Targeting the Pope
The false videos range from the believable to the bizarre. Some show Pope Leo reflecting on sacraments such as the Eucharist, while others falsely depict him commenting on figures like Charlie Kirk, former U.S. President Donald Trump, or even the Rapture. One viral 25-minute clip falsely claimed the pontiff had spoken about “Charlie Kirk’s murder,” attracting over 445,000 views within a week of posting.
An earlier deepfake, which spread just days after Leo’s election in May, showed him praising Burkina Faso’s military leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré and denouncing colonialism. Despite fact-checking articles by CNA and Vatican News, the manipulated video amassed at least a million views before YouTube shut down the account that posted it.
The Growing Threat of AI Manipulation
“Unfortunately, we are witnessing the exponential proliferation of a series of YouTube channels with fake videos, all similar to one another,” the Dicastery for Communication said in a statement. “Some speak in the voice of Leo XIV, others in that of translators, still others in the third person. All use artificial intelligence to make the pope say things he never said.”
While many clips remain small in reach, the Vatican warns that some are beginning to spread widely, misleading audiences. “Much of our time is spent reporting, silencing, and requesting the removal of these accounts. Given the sheer volume of fake material, it is impossible to publicly refute each and every one of them,” the dicastery admitted in its August newsletter.
A Challenge Beyond Technology
Pope Leo XIV himself recently recounted how AI-generated images convinced acquaintances he had suffered a serious fall. “They thought it was me,” the pope said, describing photos circulating online that appeared to show him tumbling down steps outside St. Peter’s Basilica. The images were so realistic they even prompted inquiries about his health.
This is not the first time a pope has been targeted by digital manipulation. In 2015, Pope Francis appeared in a doctored video on American television, and in 2023, a viral AI-generated image depicted him wearing a fashionable white puffer coat. But Vatican officials warn that the current wave of deepfakes is far more sophisticated and coordinated.
Vatican’s Response and Appeal
The Holy See has been actively reporting fake accounts to digital platforms, but officials acknowledge that the problem is growing faster than it can be contained. Beyond takedowns, the Vatican is investing in public awareness and media literacy campaigns to help believers discern fact from fiction.
“We are working to raise our audience’s awareness of this new phenomenon,” the dicastery explained. “It is essential to invest in media literacy. We also remind everyone to rely on official Vatican channels if a quote or image is not there, it is most probably a fake.”
As technology continues to advance, the Vatican faces the daunting task of defending the integrity of its leader’s image in an online environment where misinformation can travel further and faster than ever before.