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Pope Leo XIV has acknowledged that science and technology are increasingly shaping “the way we live in the world”, in a speech on Tuesday to “Influencers and Digital Missionaries” gathered in Rome for a special 2025 Jubilee event organised for them.
In the 21st century, the digital age has expanded rapidly, with millions of people listening to podcasts and watching videos on platforms such as YouTube and Facebook. Many of these content creators focus on Catholicism, and the Vatican invited a number of them to Rome as part of the Jubilee Year.
The Pope said the world was in urgent need of peace “in these times marked by hostility and war”, and that this was the task now entrusted to modern digital missionaries.
“You are here to renew your commitment to nourish Christian hope in social networks and online spaces,” Leo said.
“Peace needs to be sought, proclaimed and shared everywhere—both in the places where we see the tragedy of war, and in the empty hearts of those who have lost the meaning of life and the desire for introspection and the spiritual life,” he added.
“Perhaps, today more than ever, we need missionary disciples who convey the gift of the Risen Lord to the world; who voice to the ends of the earth the hope that Jesus gives us; and who go wherever there is a heart that waits, seeks, and is in need. Yes, to the ends of the earth, to the farthest reaches, where there is no hope,” the Pope said.
He noted that a key challenge for online evangelists is to bring humanity into a culture increasingly shaped by technology.
“Always look for the ‘suffering flesh of Christ’ in every brother and sister you encounter online. Today we find ourselves in a new culture, deeply characterised and formed by technology. It is up to us—each one of you—to ensure that this culture remains human,” Leo said.
“Science and technology influence the way we live in the world, even affecting how we understand ourselves and how we relate to God and others. But nothing that comes from man and his creativity should be used to undermine the dignity of others. Our mission—your mission—is to nurture a culture of Christian humanism, and to do so together. This is the beauty of the ‘network’ for us,” he explained.
The Pope said the Church has never responded passively to cultural shifts but has always sought to illuminate each age with the light of Christ.
“She has always sought to discern good from evil, and what was good from what needed to be changed, transformed and purified.”
He added that the current era is marked by the rise of artificial intelligence, which would soon define individual and social life.
“Today we are in a culture where the technological dimension is present in almost everything, especially as the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence will mark a new era in the lives of individuals and society as a whole,” Leo said.
“This is a challenge that we must face: reflecting on the authenticity of our witness, on our ability to listen and speak, and on our capacity to understand and be understood. We have a duty to work together to develop a way of thinking and a language, of our time, that gives voice to Love,” he added.
Leo warned that digital missionaries must avoid becoming merely content creators.
“Your activity is not simply a matter of generating content, but of creating an encounter between hearts,” he said.
“This will entail seeking out those who suffer and need to know the Lord, so that they may heal their wounds, get back on their feet and find meaning in their lives.” Above all, he added, this process “begins with accepting our own poverty, letting go of all pretence and recognising our own inherent need for the Gospel.”
“And this process is a communal endeavour,” the Pope said.
He also cautioned participants not to become obsessed with numbers or popularity.
“Do not focus on the number of ‘followers’ you might have. Instead, experience the greatness of infinite Love in every encounter; networks that give space to others more than to ourselves, where no ‘bubble’ can silence the voices of the weakest.”
Leo called on them to build networks “that liberate and save; networks that help us rediscover the beauty of looking into each other’s eyes; networks of truth.”
“In this way, every story of shared goodness will be a knot in a single, immense network: the network of networks, the network of God,” he said.
