Pope Urges Priests to Keep Sermons Human, Not Machine‑Made

The Pope met with Rome’s priests on February 19 and said they should not use computers to write sermons. He explained that machines can’t share faith the way people do. The message was clear: real human connection is essential for ministry. He compared writing a homily to exercising a muscle. If you don’t use it, the muscle weakens. The same is true for a priest’s mind and heart. AI can help with facts, but it cannot feel the gospel. The Pope also warned about social media. He said that “likes” and followers can make people think they are reaching others, but it is only a surface. Real relationships require meeting people face‑to‑face. He spoke about the isolation many young people feel after the pandemic. Smartphones keep them apart from real life.

The Pope suggested priests join sports or cultural events to meet youth in everyday places. He urged them to walk with young people on the streets and share stories. The Pope has long spoken about technology. He sees AI as a new challenge for the Church, just like industrial machines were in the past. He believes that technology can help medicine and science, but it also raises moral questions. The Pope called for teamwork in managing AI. He said that governments, businesses, artists, and teachers all must help create rules for digital life. Only together can we protect dignity, justice, and fairness. The Pope’s name, Leo XIV, links him to a former pope who faced the first industrial revolution. Now he faces the next big change: artificial intelligence.

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