On a bright spring day, Father Eric Salobir guided a group through the bustling St. Peter's Square to meet Pope Leo XIV. The delegation included representatives from major tech companies like Meta, Google, and Amazon, convened in Rome to engage in discussions about child protection in the context of artificial intelligence. Their encounter with the pope was brief, but a subsequent meeting at the French embassy in the Holy See lasted several hours.
During this extended dialogue, Paolo Ruffini, the Vatican's leading communications official, engaged with tech industry representatives on a pressing issue at the forefront of Pope Leo's papacy: How should the Catholic Church, a long-standing moral authority, evaluate the rapid advancements in technology emerging from Silicon Valley?
The meeting held on April 29 was part of a series of discussions that suggest a quiet lobbying effort by the tech sector ahead of the pope’s upcoming encyclical, a significant document due for release on Monday that will articulate the Catholic Church's stance on artificial intelligence.
For years, Silicon Valley has attempted to reassure both governments and the public regarding the responsible development of AI. Now, the industry is making its case directly within Vatican walls. Recently, tech industry representatives have visited Rome to meet with Church officials, presenting themselves as allies in the ethical progression of AI. Their influence has permeated the Vatican via embassies, intimate gatherings, and connections with Catholic intermediaries deeply embedded in the technology sector.
The stakes surrounding Leo's initial encyclical are high. To be presented by the pope on Monday, this document has been shaped by various contributions from cardinals, experts, and businesses. It will be closely observed as it pertains to a technology that is rapidly transforming the global economy, workplace, and many facets of everyday life.
Sarah El Haïry, the French government's high commissioner for children who attended the April meeting, remarked on the potential wider implications of the encyclical, likening it to Leo XIII's 1891 document on labor rights that significantly influenced Catholic social teaching during the Industrial Revolution. "The pope's encyclical could have a profound impact, mirroring how Leo XIII's work offered a cohesive vision for navigating the challenges of the industrial era,” she told POLITICO.
From the outset of his papacy, Leo XIV has indicated that technology, particularly artificial intelligence, will be a focal point of his teachings. In his inaugural address to cardinals, he noted that his papal name was intentionally chosen as a homage to Leo XIII, who championed human dignity and workers' rights. He signaled his intention to address themes pertinent to a new industrial revolution and the rise of AI.
Even Leo's public persona reflects a contemporary twist; during his first Mass post-election, the sleeve of his cassock slipped to reveal an Apple Watch on his wrist. When he presents the encyclical, he will likely be joined by Christopher Olah, cofounder of Anthropic, an AI firm that prioritizes safety in its operations. Anthropic has had disputes with the U.S. Defense Department, notably declining to allow its technology to be used for domestic surveillance or autonomous weaponry, and has fostered relationships with the Vatican concerning AI ethics.
The ties between the Vatican and the tech industry are bolstered by figures such as Éric Salobir, a French Dominican priest with a background in investment banking, who is now an expert at the Holy See. Salobir heads the Human Technology Foundation's executive committee, an organization dedicated to promoting ethical technology and includes members like Google, Palantir, and Qualcomm.
In collaboration with the French Embassy, Salobir has also spearheaded the establishment of a "French AI Observatory in Rome," which seeks to create a space for private discussions between tech representatives and Vatican officials. These dialogues have become more frequent since Pope Francis's tenure.
The gathering on April 29 featured prominent attendees, including Salobir and El Haïry, alongside representatives from Google, Amazon, and Meta, focusing not just on child protection but also extending to the broader societal impacts of AI. One participant observed that the tone of the discussions leaned more towards a humanistic perspective than purely theological. Some tech leaders appeared genuinely invested in the dialogue, while others remained more focused on their prepared remarks. "This demonstrates that a portion of the Vatican is not dismissive of technology as a whole, but aims to harness it for the benefit of humanity," noted one anonymous attendee.
Following the discussions, the participants compiled a summary for Clara Chappaz, France's minister for artificial intelligence and digital affairs, to inform ongoing digital policy conversations at the G7.
Meanwhile, Washington has also taken an interest in the encyclical, despite a somewhat strained relationship between the Trump administration and Pope Leo. In April, Trump publicly criticized the pope for his critiques and expressed discontent. However, U.S. officials have sought to keep lines of communication open regarding AI. The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See hosted events exploring AI’s role in the workforce, supported by diplomatic missions from Australia, the UK, Japan, and Taiwan.
During these events, George Osborne, the former British Chancellor now involved with OpenAI, held discussions about the implications of AI for future workers and the potential for deepened inequality. Scholars, like Noam Yuchtman, highlighted that these outreach efforts aimed to showcase to the Vatican individuals and organizations committed to ethical AI practices.
As the Vatican prepares to unveil the encyclical, there's acknowledgment that while it may serve as a moral reference, it does not guarantee uncritical acceptance by political figures. JD Vance, a U.S. Senate member and Catholic convert, indicated he would approach the encyclical with both interest and skepticism. "While the pope’s encyclical on AI will carry weight, it’s likely to be a mixed bag of perspectives I may agree with or not. Nonetheless, I expect it to be an influential document," he stated.
With anticipation and caution, those who have engaged in shaping the Vatican's view are now eager to see which arguments will resonate within the encyclical. "Encyclicals are intended to endure," remarked a contributor close to the Vatican, who wished to remain anonymous. "The Church's principle is to uphold what it has articulated."
Océane Herrero is a tech reporter based in Paris for POLITICO. This report first appeared in POLITICO and is reprinted on Business Insider through the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network—a collective of news outlets, including Business Insider.
