Pope Leo bans Catholic priests from using AI to write sermons

Pope Leo XIV has forbidden priests from using artificial intelligence to write sermons, stating it “will never be able” to convey genuine faith or speak to God.

He issued the directive during a closed-door meeting with clergy from the Diocese of Rome on Thursday, February 26. After his address, the 70-year-old pontiff fielded questions from four priests of varying ages.

Responding to a parish priest’s query on engaging postmodern culture without outdated methods, Leo XIV stressed truly knowing one’s community. He recalled a recent visit to Rome’s southern Ostia neighborhood, urging priests to immerse themselves in parishioners’ realities.

He warned against relying on AI and the internet for homilies, saying, “Like all the muscles in the body, if we do not use them, they die. The brain needs to be used, so our intelligence must also be exercised.”

A true homily, he explained, shares personal faith—something AI can never do. “People want to see your faith, your experience of having known and loved Jesus Christ,” he said, emphasizing sermons rooted in local context.

Earlier, answering a young priest he ordained last May about supporting peers, the Pope urged outreach beyond churchgoers. “We must organize initiatives… go out into the streets,” he said, suggesting sports, art, and culture.

He highlighted building “human experiences of friendship” with isolated youth, whose loneliness has worsened post-pandemic and due to smartphones. Priests should offer “another type of experience—sharing, communion—and gradually invite them to know Jesus.”