TLDR: Pope Leo XIV has been named to Time magazine’s ‘Time 100 AI’ list for 2025, recognized as one of the world’s most influential ‘Thinkers’ shaping humanity’s approach to artificial intelligence. His inclusion highlights his strong emphasis on the ethical dimensions of AI, drawing parallels to his namesake, Pope Leo XIII, who addressed the social challenges of the Industrial Revolution.
Pope Leo XIV has been recognized by Time magazine as one of the ‘Most Influential People in Artificial Intelligence’ for 2025, appearing on its prestigious ‘Time 100 AI’ list. The pontiff was specifically included among the 25 most influential ‘Thinkers,’ a category that acknowledges individuals shaping how humanity confronts the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. The list, now in its third annual edition since its inception in 2023 following the widespread awareness sparked by ChatGPT, aims to highlight that the direction of AI will be determined by people, not machines, encompassing innovators, advocates, artists, and all stakeholders in the technology’s future.
Time magazine praised Pope Leo XIV for his unwavering commitment to highlighting the ethical concerns posed by emerging AI technologies. According to Time technology correspondent Andrew Chow, the Pope’s choice of his papal name was, in part, a deliberate signal of the Church’s role in addressing AI’s ethical questions. He is noted to be ‘already making good on his vow.’ Upon assuming the papacy in May, Pope Leo XIV declared that as artificial intelligence ushers in a ‘new industrial revolution,’ the technology would necessitate the ‘defense of human dignity, justice and labor.’ This echoes the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, who served during the Industrial Revolution at the close of the 19th century and addressed the social question through his encyclical ‘Rerum Novarum,’ which critiqued machine-driven economic systems and advocated for the dignity of workers.
Further demonstrating his dedication to this critical issue, the Vatican hosted the Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and Corporate Governance in June. During this significant event, Pope Leo XIV delivered a keynote address, where he underscored AI’s immense potential for good, particularly in areas such as healthcare and scientific discovery. However, he also issued a stark warning about its inherent dangers. He stated that AI ‘raises troubling questions on its possible repercussions on humanity’s openness to truth and beauty, on our distinctive ability to grasp and process reality.’ The pontiff cautioned that the technology could be misused ‘for selfish gain at the expense of others, or worse, to foment conflict and aggression.’
Also Read:
- AI Pioneer Geoffrey Hinton Raises Alarm Over Worsening Economic Disparity
- New Ethical Framework Illuminates Bias and Accountability Deficiencies in Current AI Systems
Pope Leo XIV’s inclusion on the ‘Time 100 AI’ list places him alongside other prominent figures in the technology and policy sectors, including xAI founder Elon Musk, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Chris Murphy. Time magazine emphasized the significant influence of the institution Pope Leo XIV leads, noting that with 1.4 billion believers, the Catholic Church would be the world’s third-largest nation, positioning the pontiff as a ‘formidable—and unexpected—spiritual counterweight’ to Silicon Valley in the ongoing discourse surrounding AI.
