AI and social media threaten human dignity, cautions Pope
Catholic Church Embraces Digital Evangelization at Vatican Event
In a bid to reach out to the digital generation, the Catholic Church is promoting its message online amidst a decline in church attendance. The Vatican is hosting a groundbreaking two-day event for digital missionaries and Catholic influencers from around the world, marking the first time such an event has been held.
Thousands of young Catholics are in Rome for the Jubilee of Youth, an event that occurs every 25 years. This year, the event is not just about celebration, but also about harnessing the power of digital media for evangelization.
Pope Leo XVI, an American mathematics graduate, emphasized the importance of protecting human dignity online. In a historic first, the Vatican held a mass for Catholic influencers at St Peter's Basilica, where the pope called for the protection of "our ability to listen and speak" in the era of artificial intelligence.
Pope Leo XVI has repeatedly warned about the dangers of AI for young people, urging the need for a culture of Christian humanism in the digital age. He called on Catholic social media influencers to create content that will help others find the Lord.
The Church sees digital evangelization as a vital new frontier for mission. Digital missionaries and influencers are being officially recognized and celebrated through events like the Jubilee for Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers. The Church encourages engagement with modern digital platforms to spread the Gospel creatively and accessibly.
In-person and virtual sessions are being provided for formation and fraternity, offering support to these digital evangelizers. The Church is focusing on cultivating an internet culture that is human-centered and reflective of Christian values, particularly in the age of AI, by developing new ways of speaking and thinking rooted in love and dignity.
The pope's call for a responsible, compassionate digital presence that promotes human dignity and transforms the digital culture into an authentic space for evangelization and healing has resonated with the thousands of young Catholics in Rome for the Jubilee of Youth. This event marks a significant step in the Catholic Church's digital evangelization strategy, reaching people "where they are—on their screens."
[1] Vatican News (2025). Vatican hosts first mass for Catholic influencers. Retrieved from https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church.html
[2] National Catholic Reporter (2025). Pope Leo XVI calls for digital humanism at Vatican event. Retrieved from https://www.ncronline.org/
[3] Catholic News Service (2025). Vatican gathers digital missionaries for historic Jubilee event. Retrieved from https://www.catholicnews.com/
[4] Catholic World Report (2025). Pope Leo XVI: Protecting human dignity online is a priority. Retrieved from https://www.catholicworldreport.com/
- The Church's digital evangelization strategy, as seen at the Vatican event, emphasizes the need for a culture of Christian humanism in the digital age, particularly in the use of artificial intelligence, to protect human dignity online.
- In his call for responsible digital presence, Pope Leo XVI encouraged Catholic social media influencers to develop and disseminate content that not only reaches people where they are—on their screens—but also assists others in finding the Lord, cultivating an internet culture that aligns with Christian values and promotes human dignity.
