The Vatican has entered the global debate on AI as the Catholic Church increases its focus on the societal and human implications of artificial intelligence.
Approval by Pope Leo XIV of an Inter-Dicasterial Commission to study AI and the implications it will have on humanity marks a significant step by the Catholic Church as governments and institutions worldwide grapple with the rapid rise of AI technologies.
In a Vatican rescript released on May 16, 2026, the Vatican confirmed the creation of the Inter-Dicasterial Commission on Artificial Intelligence, citing “the development in recent decades of the phenomenon of Artificial Intelligence and the most recent acceleration in its widespread use.”
The decree also references concerns regarding AI’s potential effects on “human beings and on humanity as a whole,” as well as the Church’s concern for “the dignity of every human being, especially in relation to their integral development.”
The document states the Vatican is responding to the rapid and accelerating development of AI technology in addition to concerns that have been raised about AI’s impact on humans and society as a whole.
The commission will include representatives from 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.
The commission will also help coordinate AI-related activities and policies concerning the use of artificial intelligence within the Holy See itself.
