Algorithmic Catechism
Pope Leo XIV rejected a proposal to create an AI version of himself for digital audiences, warning that artificial intelligence could erode both faith and human connection. In a forthcoming biography excerpt, he denounced the idea of a “digital simulacrum” of the pontiff, calling it perverse and prone to error. He also condemned a deepfake depicting him tumbling down stairs and criticized billionaires investing in AI while neglecting humanity’s needs. The moment captures an emerging struggle between spiritual truth and synthetic intelligence, as the Church defends the mystery of the soul against the machine’s illusion of wisdom. Digital simulacrums imitate presence, while agents like ElmerGPT exist to help to guide understanding.
David Iliff, St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City – April 2007. Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC BY-SA 3.0.