Pope Leo XIV urged schools and universities to put human dignity at the centre of their use of artificial intelligence. Speaking to educators in Montevideo, Uruguay, he linked technical skills with reflection and social responsibility. He also challenged the treatment of people as disposable when they are considered unproductive, and asked educational institutions to listen beyond their own communities.
Pope Leo XIV urged educators at the Catholic University of Uruguay in Montevideo on November 7 to place people before algorithms when using artificial intelligence. He called on schools and universities to cultivate wise use of technology. His appeal connected technical intelligence with emotional, social, spiritual and ecological development, placing choices about AI within the wider responsibilities of education.[1], [2]
Leo argued that gathering information needs reflection, discernment and an understanding of context. He asked educators to reserve space for attention, silence and judgement in students’ learning. Using the five senses to organize his address, he linked technological skills with a broader account of human development. He also criticized judging human worth by efficiency and excluding people once they are considered unproductive.[1]
The Pope asked educational institutions to listen to families, civil society, public authorities and representatives of working life. His account of educational responsibility included informal settings and institutions supporting reintegration into society. Rector Julio Fernández Techera and Montevideo Archbishop Daniel Sturla attended the meeting, where Leo addressed teachers, students and representatives of different educational communities. He emphasized attentive adult presence and cooperation in education outside conventional classrooms.[1]
