Vatican City: The Vatican has launched an intensified campaign against a rising tide of AI-generated deepfake videos that falsely depict Pope Leo XIV making statements he never uttered. The Holy See’s communications department confirmed that hundreds of such manipulated videos have flooded platforms like YouTube, sowing confusion among the faithful and damaging the credibility of official papal communications.
The Dicastery for Communication expressed deep concern over what it called an “exponential proliferation” of artificial videos imitating the pontiff’s speech and gestures. “We are witnessing a growing number of YouTube channels releasing fake content in the pope’s voice or that of his translators, fabricated entirely through artificial intelligence,” the dicastery said in a statement to Catholic News Agency (CNA).
Despite continuous efforts to remove fake content, new videos keep appearing almost immediately. Some imitate Pope Leo’s homilies or public remarks, while others make absurd claims such as announcing his resignation or commenting on unrelated political events.
A casual search for “Pope Leo” on YouTube now returns a disturbing list of fabricated videos. While many receive modest engagement, some have gone viral. One 25-minute video claiming that Pope Leo had “broken his silence” on the alleged murder of American commentator Charlie Kirk amassed over 445,000 views within days.
Another earlier viral clip created soon after Pope Leo’s election falsely portrayed him praising Burkina Faso’s coup leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. The video, which gained more than a million views, was eventually removed following fact-checks by CNA and Vatican News.
Even Pope Leo XIV himself recently acknowledged the confusion caused by these realistic fakes. In an interview with journalist Elise Ann Allen, the pontiff recounted receiving concerned messages from friends who believed a deepfake showing him falling down the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica was real. “The images were so convincing that even my friends thought it was me,” Pope Leo said, highlighting how convincing AI-generated imagery has become.
The Vatican’s communications office has been on high alert for months, urging the public to verify content before sharing it. In its August newsletter, the dicastery noted that it receives “dozens of reports daily” about fake accounts impersonating the pope. “Much of our time is spent reporting, silencing, and requesting the removal of these accounts,” the statement said.
Officials emphasized that complete containment is nearly impossible, given the speed and scale of AI content creation. Instead, the Vatican is focusing on media literacy, encouraging Catholics worldwide to critically evaluate what they see online. “If it is not published on verified Vatican channels, it is most probably fake,” the dicastery reminded.
The Vatican’s struggle reflects a broader global challenge: the rise of deepfake media. The term refers to digitally manipulated videos or audio recordings that use machine learning to mimic real people. As these tools become more advanced, even trained eyes struggle to distinguish authenticity from fabrication.
This is not the first time a pope has been targeted. In 2015, a doctored video of Pope Francis performing a “magic trick” during Mass aired on U.S. television, and in 2023, an AI-generated image of him wearing a designer white puffer coat became an internet sensation.
In its latest communication, the Vatican reiterated its commitment to protecting the integrity of papal communications. The Holy See is now collaborating with digital platforms and cybersecurity experts to track fake content more efficiently.
“Artificial intelligence can be a powerful tool for evangelization,” a Vatican spokesperson said, “but when misused, it threatens truth and trust values that lie at the heart of our mission.”
As the battle against digital deception intensifies, the Vatican’s message is clear: truth must never be lost in the noise of technology.