Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has cautioned that children and adolescents are increasingly at risk of being influenced and manipulated by artificial intelligence, urging families, educators and governments to take stronger steps to protect young people in the digital age.
Speaking on Thursday at the Vatican to participants of the conference “The Dignity of Children and Adolescents in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” Pope said AI is now shaping education, entertainment and daily interactions in ways that raise serious ethical concerns.
He noted that minors are especially exposed to AI systems that can subtly steer their decisions and preferences. For this reason, he stressed the need for parents and teachers to understand how digital tools work and to help guide young people’s online behavior.
Pope said governments and international organizations have a duty to update data protection laws and promote ethical standards for AI development. But he emphasized that legal measures alone are not enough.
“Safeguarding the dignity of minors cannot be reduced to policies,” he said, insisting that digital education must become a priority. He recalled the words of Pope Francis, who encouraged adults to act as “artisans of education” and accompany young people with commitment and care.
Pope Leo XIV said drafting ethical rules is important, but real protection requires daily educational efforts, supported by networks of collaboration. Adults, he added, must recognize the risks linked to AI and unsupervised digital use, especially how these technologies can affect relationships and personal development.
Only by helping young people understand these dangers, he said, can society guide them to make responsible choices and use technology in a healthy, balanced way.
He urged that AI must become “an ally and not a threat” in the growth of children and adolescents, and expressed hope that the conference would strengthen efforts to serve young people and the wider Church and society. The Pope concluded by imparting his blessing to all participants.