Nice try, sinners: Pope nixes idea of AI pontiff blessing netizens

Leo XIV voices concerns about AI taking jobs – and not just his own

Pope Leo XIV has crucified the idea of creating an AI version which would've allowed Catholics around the world to have a virtual audience with him – without the need for a trip to Vatican City.

Despite being the first Pope to come from the United States – home of the Silicon Valley and the cult of AI – the latest Pontiff wasn't thrilled with the idea of what he described as an "artificial me."

"If there's anybody who should not be represented by an avatar, I would say the Pope is high on the list," he said in an interview with Papal journalist and biographer, Elise Allen.

His Holiness – talking about a subject which would've flummoxed Popes of the 20th century, let alone St. Peter all the way back in the 1st century – said he was asked to sign off on an AI Pope. He wasn't impressed with the idea.

"Someone recently asked authorization to create an artificial me so that anybody could sign onto this website and have a personal audience with 'the Pope'," he said.

"This artificial intelligence Pope would give them answers to their questions, and I said, 'I'm not going to authorize that'."

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