Pope Leo XIV approved on 16 May 2026 the establishment of an interdicasterial commission on artificial intelligence.
Taking into account the recent development of the phenomenon of artificial intelligence and seeing its potential impact on people and on all humanity, Pope Leo XIV approved the establishment of an interdicasterial commission on artificial intelligence.
The Church is concerned for the dignity of every person, especially in relation to the development of AI, which prompted the need for a new commission in the Vatican. The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development will coordinate the work of the commission in its first year.
In the text issued by the Holy See on 16 May it is explained that the commission consists of representatives of seven Vatican institutions: the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Dicastery for Culture and Education, the Dicastery for Communication, the Pontifical Academy for Life, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. One of these institutions is responsible for coordinating the commission for a one-year term, which may be extended, after which the Pope decides which body will next lead the work.
It is specified that the duty of the coordinating institution is to facilitate cooperation and the exchange of information among the members of the group regarding activities and projects related to artificial intelligence, including in the area of policy for its use within the Holy See, while at the same time promoting dialogue, communion, and participation.
Cardinal Czerny established the institution in accordance with Article 28 of the apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium, according to which the head of a dicastery may create a special interdicasterial commission to address matters that concern the responsibilities of several dicasteries and require mutual and frequent consultation.
This is not the first time the dicasteries have joined forces to address this issue. In January 2025, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Culture and Education published the note Antiqua et Nova on the relationship between artificial intelligence and human intelligence.
In addition, this theme has run throughout Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate, as he has often spoken about artificial intelligence and other technological advances, and the challenges they may pose to our society.
Already on May 10, 2025, just a few days after his election, the Pope explained in a meeting with the cardinals that his choice of papal name was inspired by Pope Leo XIII, who addressed the problems brought about by the Industrial Revolution in his encyclical Rerum Novarum.
He then emphasized that, in our time, the Church offers to all the treasury of her social teaching in response to yet another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence, which pose new challenges to the safeguarding of human dignity, justice, and work.
A new papal encyclical is also expected (in the first half of 2026) that directly addresses today’s topic of artificial intelligence.