Ivan Yaroshko

Artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction—it’s reshaping everything from the way we work to how we connect with each other. Amid this upheaval, the Catholic Church has sounded a clear warning: alongside AI’s promise, there lurks a “shadow of evil” that demands our collective attention. In January 2025, the Vatican’s landmark note, Antiqua et Nova: Note on the Relationship Between Artificial Intelligence and Human Intelligence, reiterated that while AI can be a powerful tool, it must never eclipse human dignity or moral responsibility. (vatican.va)

Ancient Gifts vs. Modern Tools

For the Church, human intelligence is a sacred gift, imprinted by God’s image with reason, creativity, and conscience. In contrast, AI is “one of the greatest products of human ingenuity”—capable of astonishing feats but devoid of consciousness, empathy, or moral insight. Pope Francis has even warned that calling AI “intelligent” can mislead us, since it operates through algorithms, not through the lived experience that underpins genuine understanding. The Vatican insists that humans must always control AI, remaining ultimately responsible for its actions. (vaticannews.va, usccb.org)

Autonomous Weapons: A Dire Threat

Perhaps the most alarming risk is the rise of autonomous weapons—so-called “killer robots” that select and engage targets without human involvement. The Vatican has labeled these systems an “existential risk” and has joined Pope Francis in calling for a complete ban, arguing that removing humans from life-and-death decisions strips away moral judgment and accountability. Such weapons could wreak uncontrollable havoc and undermine the very foundations of humanitarian law. (reuters.com)

The Erosion of Human Connection

In our digitally mediated world, there’s a danger that AI-driven interactions may replace genuine relationships. The Vatican warns that mistaking chatbots for friends or seeking companionship in algorithms can deepen loneliness and erode empathy. Unlike human-to-human bonds, AI lacks true understanding or compassion, and overreliance on it risks isolating us from real communities of solidarity. (thetimes.co.uk)

Deepening Inequality and Economic Risks

AI’s rapid integration into the economy could widen existing gaps, the Church cautions. Concentrated in the hands of a few tech giants, AI may fuel discrimination, threaten workers’ livelihoods, and exacerbate the global digital divide. While automation can boost productivity, it can also deskill labor, enforce intrusive surveillance, and trap employees in repetitive tasks—undermining human creativity and fair opportunity. Pope Francis insists that progress must uplift everyone, not just enrich the powerful. (thetimes.co.uk, usccb.org)

Healthcare and the Sacred Doctor-Patient Bond

In medicine, AI offers breakthroughs in diagnostics and treatment—but the Church emphasizes that no algorithm should replace the trust and empathy at the heart of the doctor-patient relationship. Decisions about care must rest with human professionals who can weigh ethical nuances and show compassion. The Church warns that unchecked AI in healthcare could deepen disparities, leaving the most vulnerable without the human touch they need. (vaticannews.va)

Upholding Truth in a World of Deepfakes

AI’s power to generate hyper-realistic misinformation poses a grave threat to social trust. Deepfakes and AI-driven propaganda can distort reality, polarize communities, and even sway elections. The Vatican calls for vigilance in verifying information and protecting public discourse from manipulation. In an era when seeing no longer means believing, safeguarding truth becomes a moral imperative. (reuters.com)

Privacy Under Siege: Surveillance and Conscience

Advanced AI surveillance can peer into the most intimate aspects of our lives—and potentially our consciences. The Church warns that unchecked data collection and profiling endanger personal freedom and could be abused to control religious expression. Regulations must ensure transparency, accountability, and respect for individual privacy and freedom of conscience. (vaticannews.va)

The Rome Call for AI Ethics: A Global Pact

In July 2024, leaders from eleven world religions gathered in Hiroshima to sign the Rome Call for AI Ethics, an initiative born at the Vatican in 2020 to embed “algorethics” into AI design. Promoted by the Pontifical Academy for Life and joined by partners like Microsoft and IBM, the Rome Call champions an ethical approach that places human flourishing at its core. (press.vatican.va, press.vatican.va)

Balancing Caution and Hope

While the Church sounds the alarm on AI’s shadows, it also acknowledges the technology’s potential for good: advancing medicine, empowering people with disabilities, enriching education, and aiding in the fight against climate change. Far from rejecting innovation, the Church calls for a responsible path that harnesses AI as a gift—one that must remain subordinate to human wisdom and goodwill.