
Pope Leo's Name Carries a Warning About the Rise of AI
New papal names often drip with meaning. Pope Francis, in 2013, named himself after Saint Francis of Assisi, signifying his dedication to poverty, humility, and peace. Pope Paul VI, in 1963, modeled himself after Paul the Apostle, becoming the first pope to make apostolic journeys to other continents.
When Robert Francis Prevost announced on Saturday he would take the name Leo XIV, he gave an unexpected reason for his choice: the rise of AI. The most recent Pope Leo, Prevost explained, served during the Industrial Revolution at the end of the 19th century, and railed against the new machine-driven economic systems turning workers into mere commodities. Now, with AI ushering in a 'new industrial revolution,' the 'defense of human dignity, justice and labor' is required, he said.
With his name choice and speech, Leo XIV firmly marks AI as a defining challenge facing our world today. But also embedded in the name is a potential path forward. Leo XIII, during his papacy, laid out a vision for protecting workers against tech-induced consolidation, including minimum wage laws and trade unions. His ideas soon gained influence and were implemented in government policies around the world.
While it's still unclear what specific guidance Leo XIV may issue on artificial intelligence, history suggests the implications of his crusade could be profound. If he mobilizes the world's one billion Catholics against AI's alienating potential as decisively as his namesake confronted industrial exploitation, Silicon Valley may soon face an unexpected and formidable spiritual counterweight.
'We have a tradition that views work from a theological perspective. It's not simply burdensome; it's where we develop ourselves,' says Joseph Capizzi, dean of theology and religious studies for The Catholic University of America. 'Pope Leo XIV is going to be drawing on our tradition to try to make a case for finding work that dignifies human beings—even while making space for AI to do things that human beings will no longer be doing.'
Rerum Novarum
At the heart of Leo XIV's new name choice is Leo XIII's formal letter Rerum Novarum, which he wrote in 1891. At the time, the Industrial Revolution was upending society. Mechanized production and factory systems generated unprecedented wealth and productivity, but led to the displacement of many agrarian jobs and people to move into overcrowded, unsanitary urban centers in search of work. The jobs there were grueling, unsafe, and paid terribly. The wealth gap widened dramatically, leading to massive social unrest and the rise of communist ideology.
In the midst of these many challenges, Leo penned Rerum Novarum, an encyclical that marked the first major example of a pope commenting on social justice. In it, Leo wrote that 'a small number of very rich men' had laid 'upon the teeming masses of the laboring poor a yoke little better than that of slavery itself.' There now existed as 'the gulf between vast wealth and sheer poverty,' he wrote.
To combat this trend, Leo explored potential solutions. First, he rejected communism, arguing that workers had a right to the fruits of their own labors. But he also stressed the need for a living wage, time for workers for family and church, and the right to form Christian trade unions. 'He was really championing the rights of workers,' says Dr. Richard Finn, director of the Las Casas Institute at Blackfriars, Oxford.
These ideas eventually caught hold. One of the first major advocates of minimum wage laws in the U.S. was the priest and economist John A. Ryan, who cited Pope Leo as a significant influence. Many ideas in his text 'A Living Wage and Distributive Justice' were later incorporated into the New Deal, when Ryan was an influential supporter of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In the 1960s, the Catholic Church eventually came out in support of César Chávez and the United Farmworkers (UFW), which Chávez told TIME in 1966 was the 'single most important thing that has helped us.'
In Australia, Rerum Novarum influenced political leaders who forged a basic wage in that country. And in Mexico, the Rerum Novarum spurred the creation of many Catholic labor unions and mutual aid societies. 'It really shaped Catholic activism, with organizations working to ensure that Mexico was neither an unfettered capitalist country nor a Marxist state-owned state,' says Julia Young, a professor at the Catholic University of America. 'It was successful in creating Catholic associations that were very politically vocal.'
The Church and AI
More than a century after the industrial revolution, a similarly impactful technological revolution is unfolding, amidst many similar economic circumstances.
'In terms of similarities between now and then, there was rural to urban immigration changing the workplace, widespread exploitation of workers, and seemingly growing poverty in urban areas,' Young says. 'And so you had the church trying to respond to that and saying, 'We have a different response than Marx or the robber barons.'
While Leo XIV hasn't yet explicitly called for any of the same measures as Leo XIII, it is clear that he believes the rise of AI necessitates some sort of counterweight. And his citing of Rerum Novarum also perhaps reveals a hunger to provoke widespread social change and offer a third path in a two-power arms race. 'In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution,' he said on Saturday.
Across the world, people are expressing intense anxiety about AI causing job displacement. (Some economists contend that these fears are overblown, however.) Like in the industrial revolution, the initial spoils of AI are flowing to a few ultra-powerful companies. And AI companies have also reinforced some of the worst aspects of predatory global capitalism systems: OpenAI, for instance, outsourced some of its most grueling AI training to Kenyan laborers earning less than $2 an hour.
Leo's interest in this area continues that of Pope Francis, who became increasingly vocal about the threats to humanity posed by AI in his later years. Last summer at the G7 Summit, he called for an international treaty to regulate AI, arguing that it could exacerbate social tensions, reinforce dominant cultures, and undermine education. 'We would condemn humanity to a future without hope if we took away people's ability to make decisions about themselves and their lives, by dooming them to depend on the choices of machines,' he said.
Some leaders have signaled the importance of prioritizing workers' rights during the AI revolution, like Senator Josh Hawley. But until a coherent political movement emerges, moral leadership on human dignity in the face of AI may flow from the church, and Pope Leo's outspoken leadership.
'He's saying AI is going to change the workplace—but it's got to change it in a way that fits with the dignity of employees,' says Dr. Finn.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Opinion: First Lady Melania and Pope Leo are right — it's 'unum' time
In a season of tragedy and division, two powerful voices — one from the Vatican, one from the White House — reached for the same ancient word: Unum. Last month, after the horrific shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., First Lady Melania Trump offered her condolences by quoting our national motto: E Pluribus Unum — 'Out of many, one.' Days earlier, Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, delivered his inaugural message with a similar phrase etched into his papal crest: In Illo Uno Unum — 'In the One, One.' And with the horrifying attack on Jewish families in Boulder, Colorado, earlier this month, the same call to unity remains. These aren't just old, dusty Latin words. They were calls to unity in a time when America — and the world — feels dangerously divided. We are living through a season of immense high conflict, spilling over into hate-fueled violence. But from Rome to D.C., this month reminded us that Unum — unity — is not just a relic. It's a lifeline. Let's be honest: unity sounds soft. It can feel like wishful thinking. But today, invoking unity is a bold act. It takes guts to say, 'We still belong to each other,' especially when everything around us screams otherwise. I see signs of that courage every day. In an exhausted middle of Americans who are tired of the yelling, the blaming and the endless outrage. They're not perfect — but they're trying. Trying to build bridges instead of burning them. Trying to find common ground without giving up their convictions. That's the heart of Unum. It doesn't erase conflict or pretend we all agree. It's not utopia. It's the hard, daily work of choosing coexistence over chaos. Unum means Jewish and Muslim Americans grieving side-by-side. It means a First Lady who grew up Catholic in Slovenia invoking a motto that speaks across American synagogues, mosques and churches alike. It means a Pope who spent years in Latin America calling for peace — not as an abstract dream, but as an urgent task. And in Washington last week, that task was made painfully real. The shooting near the Israeli Embassy wasn't just another violent act. It was a national alarm. A young couple was killed. Jewish Americans and foreign diplomats had gathered at a museum dedicated to the hard work of remembering history and resisting hate. They came in peace. They fled in terror. If that doesn't shake us, what will? I mourn every loss — from D.C. to Gaza. As a former diplomat and humanitarian worker, I've seen the cost of war up close. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is heartbreaking: tens of thousands dead, aid blocked, civilians suffering. Hostages still not home. Israelis and Palestinians alike living in fear and grief. But pain doesn't have to harden us. It can humble us. It can move us to action — not vengeance. In moments like these, we face two temptations. One is despair: to give up, to believe the divisions are too deep. The other is rage: to blame, punish and retreat into our tribes. Neither will save us. The harder path — the braver one — is to build bridges anyway. Pope Leo XIV said it plainly: 'Be bridgebuilders, peace seekers, and companions on the journey.' That's not just a prayer. It's a plan. Because in a world driven by algorithms that divide and outrage that sells, choosing Unum is radical. It means staying at the table when you'd rather storm out. It means believing that pluralism — people of different faiths, races, beliefs and stories — can still build a shared life. You could say that in an interfaith nation like America, that is our common wealth — a society where deep differences don't divide us, they deepen us. The First Lady's words last month were not just a prayer — they were a call to action. Quoting our centuries-old motto E Pluribus Unum — 'Out of many, one' — was a reminder that belonging isn't partisan. It's American. It always has been. So let's hold on to that fragile hope. Let's say Unum again — and mean it.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
America's VetDogs Partners with American Integrity Insurance Group to Raise Future Service Dog
Future service dog 'Leo' will one day be placed with a veteran or first responder with disabilities Smithtown, New York, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- America's VetDogs, a New York-based national nonprofit that provides specially trained service dogs to veterans, first responders, and active-duty service members with disabilities, alongside American Integrity Insurance Group, a premier Southeast regional home insurance carrier, today announced they will co-raise a future service dog for a United States veteran or first responder with disabilities. The American Integrity pup, named Leo, is a handsome 9-week-old, male yellow Labrador Retriever. Leo will undergo basic training and socialization with the American Integrity staff for the next 14 to 18 months. Leo will make frequent visits to the American Integrity office and community events, to expose him to various environments that will help mold him into a confident and calm future service dog. Leo is the second dog raised by American Integrity through America's VetDogs' 'Puppy with a Purpose®' program, a philanthropic initiative that partners with organizations - media outlets, sports teams, or corporations—to co-raise future assistance dogs. Storm, the first service dog raised by American Integrity, completed her formal service dog training in February of this year and has been matched with a U.S. Navy veteran from North Carolina. 'American Integrity is beyond thrilled to partner with America's VetDogs to co-raise Leo,' said Angie Quinn, American Integrity Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive Vice President. 'Our experience co-raising Storm was incredibly meaningful and a great source of pride to our team. We are so pleased about the impact she is having on the veteran she is serving, and hope that Leo will make a similar difference in the life of a veteran or first responder with disabilities.' 'We are honored to once again partner with American Integrity in our mission to provide service dogs to veterans, first responders, and active-duty service members absolutely free of charge,' said John Miller, president and CEO of America's VetDogs. 'American Integrity's continued dedication to co-raising a second future service dog speaks volumes about their compassion and commitment to those who have served our nation and communities.' For more on America's VetDogs and ways to get involved, visit About America's VetDogsFor more than 20 years, America's VetDogs ( has trained and placed guide and service dogs to provide independence, enhanced mobility, and companionship to veterans with disabilities from all eras. In 2015, VetDogs opened its programs to first responders, including fire, police, and emergency medical personnel. America's VetDogs is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded by the Guide Dog Foundation and serves clients from across the United States. VetDogs relies on contributions from generous individuals, corporations, service clubs, and foundations to fund its mission to help those who have served our country live with dignity and independence. It costs over $50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place one assistance dog, but America's VetDogs provides its services completely free of charge to the individual. America's VetDogs has been accredited by both the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International. About American Integrity Insurance GroupAmerican Integrity Insurance Group is one of Florida's leading providers of residential property insurance, proudly serving almost 383,000 policyholders across Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, the company continues to set the standard in the industry by empowering homeowners and fostering a culture defined by integrity, resilience, and excellence. For more information, visit CONTACT: Mike Rosen America's VetDogs 6313342615 in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Pope Leo XIV names new bishop for Archdiocese of Fuzhou, China
June 11 (UPI) -- Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday appointed Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Fuzhou, China. "We are pleased to learn that today, on the occasion of the taking possession of the Office of Auxiliary Bishop of Fuzhou by His Excellency Monsignor Joseph Lin Yuntuan, his Episcopal Ministry is also recognized for the purposes of civil law," the Holy See said in a statement. "This event constitutes a further fruit of the dialogue between the Holy See and the Chinese Authorities and is an important step in the journey of communion of the Diocese." The Vatican said that both "the recognition of the civil effects" and taking possession the office occurred Wednesday "in the framework of the dialogue regarding the application of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China." Yuntuan's appointment was made possible by the Sino-Vatican deal signed in September 2024 and renewed for a third time in October 2024. A May 12 Human Rights Watch statement urged the Vatican to review the agreement that allows China to appoint bishops for government-approved houses of worship, subject to Pope Leo's approval. "Pope Leo XIV has an opportunity to make a fresh start with China to protect the religious freedom of China's Catholics," HRW associate China director Maya Wang said in a statement. "The new pope should press for negotiations that could help improve the right to religious practice for everyone in China." Details of the Sino-Vatican deal have never been made public. According to HRW, the agreement with the Vatican was signed during a period of intensified religious repression in China. HRW has urged Leo to press the Chinese government to immediately free several Catholic clergy who have been "imprisoned, forcibly disappeared, or subjected to house arrest and other harassment." Msgr. Joseph Lun Yuntuan is a China-born cleric ordained as a priest April 9, 1984. He was an episcopal delegate for several years and from 2013-2016 he "performed the ministry of Apostolic Administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis." Yuntuan received episcopal ordination Dec. 28, 2017. The metropolitan Archdiocese of Fuzhou was established in 1946. Leo has appointed 15 new bishops in Asia, the United States, Africa, Europe and South America.