Pope Leo says AI is the main challenge for humanity
The new pontiff vowed to continue some of Pope Francis's missions, including making the Catholic Church more inclusive.
The first American Pope told the cardinals who elected him that he was fully committed to the reforms.
He singled out AI as one of the main issues facing humanity, saying: 'In our own day, the Church offers everyone the treasury of its social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.'
Pope Francis had become increasingly vocal about the threats to humanity posed by AI and called for an international treaty to regulate it. He warned that such powerful technology risked turning human relations into mere algorithms.
Ahead of the conclave, the secret process of electing a new pontiff, an artificially generated image of Donald Trump dressed as the pope sparked criticism across the globe.
The picture depicted the US president draped in white robes while wearing a gold crucifix and mitre hat and pointing his right index finger to the sky. The post by Mr Trump was called insulting by some Catholics, while the president claimed they 'loved it'.
Other AI videos were shared widely on the internet. One depicted cardinals turning the conclave into a party, with a DJ booth, drinking games and karaoke.
Pope Francis used his 2024 peace message to call for an international treaty to ensure that AI was developed and used ethically.
Pope Leo also said in his first Mass on Friday that the Church must do more to reach places around the world where there was a lack of faith.
In his homily, he said people with a lack of faith often suffered a 'loss of meaning in life', adding: 'A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.'
He said he had been elected as the Pope so the Church could be an increasingly bright beacon in a troubled world.
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