Pope Leo XIV Urges Students to Use AI Wisely, Not for Homework
On November 21, 2025, Pope Leo XIV connected via livestream with around 16,000 high school students at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis. He answered questions from five teens on topics from technology to faith, drawing from his experiences as the first American pope. His words on artificial intelligence stood out. He stressed how students should treat it as a tool for growth, not a shortcut.
Direct Advice on AI in Schoolwork
Pope Leo told the students that AI, like ChatGPT, processes information fast but can’t replace human smarts. “AI can process information quickly, but it cannot replace human intelligence—and don’t ask it to do your homework for you,” he said, according to America Magazine. He stressed using AI in ways that build personal development, not ones that skip learning or ignore ethics.
The pope pointed out AI’s limits: it doesn’t decide right from wrong or appreciate God’s creation with real wonder. He warned against over-relying on it, saying students should use it in ways that ensure they’d still know how to think, create, and build real friendships if it vanished. As The Straits Times reported, he called AI a key part of our time but one to handle with care to foster growth.
- Use AI to learn and connect, not to avoid effort.
- Focus on personal responsibility over just rules or filters.
- Protect your dignity and path to holiness through choices.
Technology’s Role in Faith and Daily Life
Beyond AI, Pope Leo urged intentional screen time. He praised tech for keeping people linked across distances, offering prayer apps, Bible study tools, and ways to share faith. But he made clear it can’t match in-person bonds like hugs or smiles. Follow St. Carlo Acutis’s lead, he suggested—use tech to spread the Gospel but limit it to make room for Mass, adoration, and helping the poor.
“Make sure technology serves your life and not the other way around,” he advised. Reports from Angelus News and The Pillar highlight how he balanced tech’s benefits with its risks, pushing for real relationships rooted in faith. As Vatican News noted, technology can help live out Christian faith when used right.
Why This Matters for Education and Society
Pope Leo’s views tie into bigger questions about ethics in education. He’s long called on AI makers and governments to set guidelines that shield young people. For students, this means education isn’t just about facts but forming character—learning to judge morals and value creation’s beauty. In society, it raises the need for responsible tech use to build bridges, not walls, as he echoed in critiques of division.
As УНН noted, he sees AI as a learning aid, not a homework stand-in, which challenges schools to teach ethics alongside skills. His message reminds everyone that human gifts—wonder, friendship, mercy—outlast any tool.
