A.I. or Amen: The Church’s Warning and My Own
The Tension Between Innovation and Faith
We’re at the edge of something profound—and deeply unsettling.
The Church has begun to raise its voice. From Pope Leo XIII’s early warnings to Pope Francis’ modern concerns, and now Pope Leo XIV’s entrance into the conversation—there’s one thing they all seem to agree on:
Artificial Intelligence may be the greatest tool humanity has created. But it may also be the one most likely to replace our very humanity.
So where does that leave us?
Between innovation and intuition. Between automation and anointing.
And somewhere in that tension, I have something to say.
II. What the Popes Have Said About A.I.
Pope Leo XIII
He foresaw the impact of industrialization on human dignity and labor. Though he never knew “artificial intelligence,” he warned of any system that strips away human value in favor of power, profit, or progress.
“It is neither just nor human to grind men down with excessive labor… to treat them as so much the more profitable the more they wear themselves out.”
Pope Francis
His concern is empathy. He warns that AI, if unchecked, will create a world where profit becomes god and compassion gets coded out of our lives.
“A technological and economic development that does not leave in its wake a better world and an integrally higher quality of life cannot be considered progress.”
Pope Leo XIV
The current Pontiff is unique. A man who once sang karaoke at a Christmas gathering. A Cardinal who attended ballgames and played Wordle with his brothers daily. He understands AI—but he’s not hypnotized by it.
His warning is subtle but deep: “Be mindful of the voice that speaks without breath.”
Translation: Use A.I., but do not let it speak for your soul.
III. What I’ve Seen—and What I Know
Here’s the truth:
I’ve used AI. You’re reading this through AI. But what you’re feeling—that’s me.
What concerns me is not the technology.
It’s the spiritual laziness I see around it.
People no longer think deeply. They don’t ask why. They don’t pray. They don’t write. They copy, paste, and scroll. And then they ask why the world feels dark.
It’s not the algorithm—it’s the absence of Amen.
IV. Are We at Another Jubilee?
Biblically, every 50 years marked a Jubilee—a divine reset. Debts forgiven. Land returned. Captives freed. It was disruptive—but sacred.
And it seems every few decades, humanity experiences a parallel moment:
- The Printing Press
- The Industrial Revolution
- The Digital Revolution
- Now: Artificial Intelligence
Every one of these eras brought both prosperity and moral panic.
But they also brought mass opportunity—especially for those left out before.
So if you’re scared of A.I.—ask yourself:
Are you scared because it’s evil, or because it demands more from you than you’ve given lately?
V. Conclusion: A.I. with Amen
A.I. cannot cry.
It cannot grieve.
It cannot know what it is to feel abandoned, betrayed, or divinely loved.
But neither can a scalpel or a prosthetic—and yet those tools heal people every day.
So maybe the answer is this:
We embrace A.I., but we teach.
We use A.I., but we lead with soul.
We question everything—and never stop.
Because it’s not A.I. or Amen.
It’s A.I. with Amen.
If we’re bold enough to believe that God still creates—even through us—
then we must also believe that He expects us to lead this next age not just with innovation,
but with conviction.
Not just with new tools—
but with eternal truth.
