Pope Leo and the Meaning of Work in the Age of AI

Pope Leo XIV explained, in the wake of his election on May 10, 2025, that his choice of papal name was in honor of Leo XIII, who addressed the social question during the first industrial revolution. Today, the new American pope intends to further explore social doctrine to address the new challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence — especially regarding human dignity, justice and labor.

It’s easy to foresee that among the new pope’s intentions is that of writing the first encyclical on AI. The Church’s attention to this topic had already begun under Francis, with the publication of the note Antiqua et Nova, which, although very comprehensive, was limited to reconstructing the current ethical debate on the issue.

To date, a comprehensive Catholic analysis of the phenomenon is still lacking — one that considers not only the social and political consequences of AI, but also its spiritual impact. As for the socio-political significance, Pope Leo’s analysis will most likely begin with what he himself told the cardinals — namely, that AI is a “great revolution”.

The First Industrial Revolution, often divided into a mechanical phase (circa 1760–1840) and an electrical phase (circa 1870–1914), marked a pivotal shift in history: waged labor became the primary, if not sole, means of subsistence. Before this transformation, most people relied on domestic production, agriculture, or trade, with the family serving not only as an emotional nucleus but also as a productive unit — the true center of social and economic life.

Today, the Second Industrial Revolution — once again divided by some into two phases: the digital (ca. 1970–2010) and the synthetic (currently underway) — may bring about a similar upheaval. The very concept of work is undergoing a radical transformation again.

During the First Industrial Revolution, the Church felt compelled to intervene in the social debate between capitalists and proletarians, offering an alternative vision of labor to that proposed by Marxism. At the time, workers had a clear sense that something was wrong with the new rhythms and the imposed work model. Today, however, it is far more difficult to grasp with the same clarity what is truly changing, because AI seems to meet so many of our needs.

The most widespread fear that AI evokes among the Western population is the potential replacement of large segments of the labor market with automated solutions. In all likelihood, this will be one of the key issues the Pope will have to address.

Catholic doctrine sees work as a means to two goals: one immanent, linked to production and consumption, and one transcendent, contributing to Christian personal fulfillment. In contrast, Protestant doctrine regards work as the very purpose of human existence. As a result, the modern individual — consciously or not shaped by Protestant values — feels profoundly threatened by the idea that entire professions might vanish, replaced by algorithms.

This sense of disorientation, though likely to be amplified by political responses such as regulation and taxation, may be more illusory than truly urgent. The transformation of the labor market driven by AI reflects a broader economic dynamic: innovation continually reshapes existing productive systems while opening new paths for industries, jobs and opportunities. In this light, AI, while automating and rendering many traditional jobs obsolete, is also paving the way for new skills, roles and production chains that were unimaginable until recently.

Fears of AI stealing jobs should be tempered by this broader awareness. The digital economy, intelligent technologies and emerging applications all embody that force which, in destroying, also creates. The real challenge lies in managing this transition in a way that avoids social trauma and enhances human potential within the new work landscape. In this discourse, Pope Leo might wish to position himself effectively.

AI is indeed giving rise to a wide array of new professions that demand specialised expertise alongside a strong creative, critical and strategic component. These roles often carry obscure or futuristic titles, but will soon become part of everyday reality. Despite the high degree of automation, systems across various industries will continue to require human oversight. Algorithms operate based on patterns and data, but they lack discernment, intuition and moral judgment — qualities that remain indispensable, especially in fields such as healthcare, education, justice, communication and politics. Human presence will not vanish; it will evolve, taking on more refined and decision-making roles. Critical thinking will become an essential resource.

The real risk is that automation — especially in certain production sectors — could push towards increasingly serial and standardised forms of labor, reducing the human operator to a mere executor of pre-programmed procedures. Yet this is not a problem inherent to AI itself, but to modern industry as a whole. Pope Leo will likely urge us to safeguard human space and dignity, encouraging us to ensure that the person is not reduced to the very process they have created.

In his message at the UN’s AI for Good Summit, Pope Leo XIV underscored the need for responsibility and discernment in the development of AI, urging that it serve the common good rather than foster domination or alienation. Drawing on Saint Augustine, he affirmed that technology must promote just and peaceful relationships rooted in human dignity — reaffirming the Church’s role as a moral guide in this transformative era.

Another key labor issue related to AI, often overlooked in Western discourse, involves the manual and technical workers essential to digital connectivity. In the Global Northwest, workers such as mechanics, engineers, electricians and plumbers build and maintain the backbone of the digital economy — data centers, factories and logistics hubs. Despite their technical roles, many face harsh, algorithm-driven conditions that dehumanize labor.

In the Global Southeast, laborers assemble critical components of tech infrastructure — from semiconductors to batteries—without which the digital world couldn't function. These workers endure exhausting production cycles and minimal protections, often under a model of efficiency rooted in exploitative practices exported by the Chinese industrial system.

The Pope, by drawing attention to these invisible pillars of the digital world, can once again act as a voice for the voiceless. And by reaffirming that work is not merely a means of production, but a path towards human and spiritual fulfillment, he can offer a prophetic vision of labor — one deeply needed in this new age of machines.

‍Gaetano Masciullo (1993) is an Italian philosopher, historian, author and freelance journalist. He mainly focuses on Vatican affairs, with particular attention to controversies within the Catholic church, and geopolitics. He collaborates with various European and American outlets.