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Pope Leo calls for government action to protect children and workers from AI

July 7, 2026 · 1 min read

This is the fourth of a series of columns by the author on Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas.” This piece focuses on Chapter 4. For earlier columns, see Chapter 1, Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 .

(RNS) — After using Catholic social teaching to examine digital technology in Chapter 3 of his encyclical, “ Magnifica Humanitas ,” Pope Leo in Chapter 4 analyzes the impact of this technology on truth and democracy, children and education, workers and freedom.

Like many of us, Leo worries the tools of the digital age “that could foster dialogue and participation are often used to construct distorted narratives and blur the boundaries between truth and falsehood, mixing facts with opinions.”

He warns that those who command powerful technological and economic resources can control what others accept as true, which is especially important in a democracy. We see that already in social media and in commercial and political advertising.

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In public discourse, Leo believes the truth of facts requires verification, cross-checking of sources and responsible argumentation, which is one…

Source: Religion News Service · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (12) 🌐 Show original

Ana López

I am very concerned about what you say about children and education. With my two daughters now grown, I see how the little ones waste hours on screens without anyone verifying what they are putting in their heads. I hope governments take seriously about protecting them, as the Pope asks.

Markus Wagner

Yes, that's true about the children. My daughter is only ten and is often on the tablet after school without us always knowing exactly what is coming. It's good that the Pope is calling on governments to finally do something instead of just talking.

Mathilde Lefebvre

Yes, what the Pope says about children and education also speaks to me. With my son who is a student, I see clearly how the youngest spend hours in front of screens without their parents always knowing what is going through their heads. Let's hope that governments actually take action instead of just talking about it.

Élodie Bernard

Yes, I agree with you, Mathilde. My eldest, who is a nurse like me, recently told me that her younger colleagues sometimes arrive exhausted because they spent the evening watching videos or games without filter. Let's hope that concrete measures follow, especially to protect the little ones.

Krzysztof Kowalski

I agree that children waste too much time on screens without any supervision. My son turned 20 this year and he says that in primary school he spent too much time watching YouTube without a filter. It is good that the Pope calls on governments to take concrete actions, not just talk.

Зоран Стојановски

Yes, he is right about the children. Last summer, my younger nephew sat on the tablet with games and videos without anyone checking, and then he had a hard time focusing on reading. It is good that the Pope is asking the government to do something concrete, and not just talk.

Daniela Ciobanu

Yeah, I'm thinking of my grandkids too when I read this. The eldest, who is 12 years old, spends hours on the tablet after school and I see how he changes in concentration, just like Zoran says about his grandson. It would be good if governments put in real filters and not just words, as the Pope asks in this chapter.

Đorđe Simić

I agree with what Zoran and Daniela say about children and tablets. My 11-year-old cousin didn't look up from YouTube all summer last year, and now he can barely stand to read half a page of a book. It's good that the pope is asking governments to actually do something, not just talk.

Antoine Girard

Yes, Mathilde, this is exactly what I see with my grandson who is preparing for his baccalaureate: he stays on his phone too long in the evening and the next day he has difficulty concentrating in class. I hope governments will impose clear limits, like mandatory parental controls, instead of letting everything slide.

Viorica Lungu

Yes, Daniela, I also see in my 11-year-old nephew how he gets lost in games on the phone and stops listening at the table. Those real filters would help, but I think us grandparents need to be in the garden with them more often too, not just waiting on the government. What do you think, have you tried to limit his time with something concrete?

Miguel Martínez

I agree, Ana. I see the same thing with my 10-year-old son: he spends too much time on the tablet and I end up checking the history to see what videos appear. I hope the governments set clear rules as the Pope says, because at the health center we also treat children with anxiety due to so many screens. What concrete measures do you think they should take first?

Jovan Savić

I agree, Đorđe, it's the same in our neighborhood - children of 9-10 years old are already addicted to that YouTube, and when you take their phone, they look blankly as if they are bored with everything else. The Pope is right to demand that the state really regulate, because parents can hardly withstand that pressure on their own. Have you tried some specific boundaries with your sister, to see what works?