Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV called on entrepreneurs and communicators to prioritize the common good and exercise vigilance against practices that dehumanize or manipulate, during a meeting with the Advisory Board of the RCS Academy. “The world needs honest and courageous individuals in business and communication, who place the welfare of society above mere personal or corporate gain,” the Pope emphasized.
Addressing the Advisory Board, which oversees formation in journalism, economics, communication, and enterprise, Pope Leo XIV expressed his delight at engaging with members at a time when discussions focus on forging a new humanism in the digital era. He highlighted the ongoing dialogue about ethics in artificial intelligence, stressing that communication should serve people rather than become a mechanical system of algorithms that replicate human reasoning into raw data devoid of awareness or conscience.
The Pope noted that the Advisory Board faces a crucial educational mission. “Education is what activates and strengthens the equal dignity of all human beings, fostering effective local and global citizenship in the spirit of participation, solidarity, and freedom,” he said. He underlined that learning to navigate digital spaces and critically engage with artificial intelligence must be integral to human and community development.
Warning against the dangers of information overload, the Holy Father stressed the need to resist emerging forms of dehumanization and manipulation, which often disguise exploitation as care or present falsehoods as truth. He described their work as twofold: responsibly informing the public while equipping recipients with the ability to critically evaluate information, distinguishing facts from opinions, and truth from misinformation.
Pope Leo XIV emphasized that understanding the mechanisms behind message creation is vital for acting responsibly in shaping public discourse. He acknowledged the important role of large enterprises, not only as cultural patrons but as active participants in this process. He clarified that economic and business objectives cannot be separated from ethical responsibility, challenging the notion that “business is business.”
The Pope encouraged continual reflection on the meaning and impact of one’s work: “No one should become a mere cog in an organization. True humanism demands critical thought and the courage to ask: Where are we heading? For whom and for what do we work? How are we making the world better?” He noted that such reflections require foresight and moral courage, since justice is essential for a sustainable future.
Transparency, accountability, and objectivity are essential in the economy of communication, the Pope stressed. Without these, even formal recognition of citizenship rights risks harming society’s most vulnerable. He invoked the guidance of the late Pope Francis, who emphasized the power of words to connect or divide, underscoring the enduring need for responsibility and integrity in journalism and communication.
Pope Leo XIV called for a vision that transcends immediate trends and partisan interests, promoting inclusive communication that empowers those marginalized or instrumentalized by systems of power. “The new challenges demand new ways of thinking, capable of bringing everyone into the conversation,” he said, highlighting the responsibility of those shaping and disseminating news.
Concluding his address, the Holy Father reiterated the need for honest, courageous entrepreneurs and communicators committed to the common good. He urged the Advisory Board of the RCS Academy to recognize their influence, to look beyond short-term gains that may impoverish the future, and to let the Gospel of Christ guide their efforts as a source of enduring inspiration.