The story of Pope Leo’s “groundbreaking” text on AI technology – from a member of the inaugural panel

In recent years I have been seconded to support the Catholic Church’s unprecedented global grassroots initiative. Just as this process was coming to an end, I received a surprising request: Would I become Pope Leo?

There is hardly a more important topic at the moment than the impact of digital technologies, AI and robotics – on all levels of our social interactions and structures.

The Vatican has addressed technological issues before. My research covers the social teaching of the popes since 1891, beginning with the influential text Rerum Novarum by Pope Leo A series of previous letters have discussed both the opportunities and dangers of technology.

Of course, the Vatican has a checkered history regarding…