TLDR: Time Magazine has included Pope Leo XIV in its 2025 ‘TIME100 AI’ list, acknowledging his significant influence on the ethical development and governance of artificial intelligence. Since assuming the papacy in May, Pope Leo XIV has emphasized the need for AI to uphold human dignity, justice, and labor, hosting a Vatican summit on AI ethics and warning against its potential misuse.
Pope Leo XIV has been named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in AI for 2025, a recognition that highlights the growing intersection of technology, ethics, and global leadership. The announcement, made on August 28, 2025, marks the third annual edition of the prestigious ‘TIME100 AI’ list, which aims to spotlight individuals shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
Upon his ascension to the papacy in May, Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Francis Prevost, declared that the ‘new industrial revolution’ ushered in by artificial intelligence would necessitate a strong ‘defense of human dignity, justice and labor.’ His inclusion on the list underscores his rapid impact on the global AI discourse.
Demonstrating his commitment to this vision, the Vatican hosted a significant convening on AI, ethics, and corporate governance in June. During his keynote address, Pope Leo XIV highlighted AI’s immense potential for good, particularly in critical areas such as healthcare and scientific discovery. However, he also voiced profound concerns, stating 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.’
Furthermore, the Pontiff issued a stern warning about the potential for AI to be exploited for ‘selfish gain at the expense of others, or worse, to foment conflict and aggression.’ This stance builds upon the Vatican’s previous efforts under Pope Francis, who advocated for a binding international treaty on artificial intelligence, a move that reportedly put tech CEOs on the defensive.
With the Catholic Church commanding a following of 1.4 billion believers, a demographic equivalent to the world’s third-largest nation, Pope Leo XIV’s continued leadership in marshaling Catholics against the ‘alienating potential’ of AI presents a ‘formidable—and unexpected—spiritual counterweight’ to Silicon Valley’s rapid technological advancements.
His chosen papal name, Leo XIV, is a deliberate tribute to Pope Leo XIII, who led the Church during the late 19th-century Industrial Revolution and was known for his critiques of economic systems that reduced workers to mere commodities. This historical parallel emphasizes the current Pope’s view of AI as a transformative force requiring careful ethical navigation.
The 2025 TIME100 AI list also features other prominent figures, including researcher Yoshua Bengio, French Minister Clara Chappaz, Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, xAI founder Elon Musk, White House AI Czar David Sacks, the E.U.’s Henna Virkkunen, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, and artists like Refik Anadol and actor Natasha Lyonne. Artist Refik Anadol notably created the issue’s cover image using an AI system trained on over 5,000 past TIME covers, visualizing AI ‘dreaming’ about a century of the magazine’s visual history. Actress Natasha Lyonne, also on the list, commented on the inevitability and apprehension surrounding AI, stating, ‘I understand the spark that AI invokes in people. Life is scary. The fact of the matter is that it’s upon us. Best we dive in, I think.’
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Computer scientist and honoree Stuart Russell estimates that the current planned expenditure on AI could be 25 times the amount spent on the Manhattan Project, adjusted for inflation, highlighting the unprecedented scale of investment and the critical decisions being made by the individuals on this year’s list.
