Catholics believe that the choice of a new pope is guided by the Holy Spirit, assuming that the electors are listening. Certainly, Leo XIV, who emerged from the conclave earlier this month as the successor to Pope Francis, believes he has a God-given mission. And, like the pontiffs who have come before him, his choice of name is an indication of what that purpose might be.

His Holiness’s X official account went live this afternoon, and among his first posts was an invocation of the last pope to take the name Leo. “Over a century ago, Pope Leo XIII noted that ‘the preservation of the Eastern rites is more important than is realized’,” Leo XIV wrote. “Let us embrace the appeal to safeguard and promote the Christian East, especially in the diaspora.”

In remarks reported by Vatican News last week, the new pope, known before his accession as Robert Prevost, said: “I chose to take the name Leo XIV. There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution.”

Leo XIII, who headed up the Church from 1878 to 1903, was both a moderniser and a fiercely intellectual defender of the Catholic faith. Such an inspiration is another reason to see Prevost as a unifier. But note the reference to Rerum Novarum, the landmark publication which established the relevance of an ancient church to the modern age and set out an alternative to both capitalism and socialism. It proved hugely influential, especially in continental Europe, where it stood in contradiction to the extremes of Right and Left.

But why is the 21st-century Leo so interested in his predecessor’s legacy? Because, he says, the Church must respond to a new industrial revolution: “Developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.”

Some might wonder why we should care what the Pope thinks about AI. It’s worth remembering, however, that he has a degree in mathematics — and is thus better equipped to understand this technology than most world leaders. Add in his expertise in theology, philosophy and law, and it’s clear that he’ll be able to comment with intellectual depth and moral authority. What’s more, as an American he can literally speak to Silicon Valley in its own language.

Mere politicians are influenced by opinion polls and economic indicators, but Leo can take a view on the long-term future of the human race — and indeed the very concept of humanity, as computers become capable of simulating personhood.

Rerum Novarum, which means “of new things” was published in 1891. Subsequent popes have marked its anniversaries with follow-up encyclicals, such as Pius XI’s Quadragesimo Anno in 1931 and John Paul II’s Centesimus Annus in 1991. If that pattern holds, then we can expect Pope Leo to publish his great defence of humanity against the machines in 2031. Far be it from me to suggest a title, but Imago Dei hasn’t been used before.

If the hype over AI is justified, then the next six years could be the most important of our lifetimes. It won’t be a case of whether the new technology transforms everything, but how. We can either allow major decisions to be dictated by Big Tech — and its vassals in politics and the media — or we can seek a second and fundamentally different opinion. There are worse voices to turn to than that of His Holiness.

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Peter Franklin is Associate Editor of UnHerd. He was previously a policy advisor and speechwriter on environmental and social issues.

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