Pope Leo XIV, elected last week after the death of Pope Francis, discussed AI during an address to the College of Cardinals on Saturday.

Pope Leo XIV revealed that his papal name was partially inspired by the looming challenges of a world increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence.

Born Robert Francis Prevost, the new pope chose his papal name in reference to Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903) who presided over the Catholic Church during the Industrial Revolution, which ushered in massive social upheaval. Pope Leo XIV sees the AI boom as a similar moment of rapid societal change.

In our own day, the church offers everyone the treasury of its social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose

The 19th-century pontiff whose name the new pope has adopted as his own had harsh words for socialism and strongly defended property rights.

In his first formal address to the media since assuming the papacy, Pope Leo XIV pressed the need for discernment and ethical responsibility in an era shaped by artificial intelligence (AI).

Pope Leo XIII, who served from 1878 to 1903, led the church into the modern world, emphasizing its moral authority beyond national boundaries. He defended the rights of working people and affirmed the value of science.

The pope has personal ties to Florida's Gulf Coast, including his brother living in Port Charlotte and a friendship with former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican, Francis Rooney.