Pope Leo XIV Outlines Papal Vision, Highlights AI Challenges in First Outing

In his first public appearance since his election, Pope Leo XIV laid out the vision for his papacy on Saturday, emphasizing artificial intelligence as a critical global issue while reaffirming the inclusive priorities of his predecessor, Pope Francis. The first American pope also made a personal mark by visiting a sanctuary south of Rome tied to his Augustinian order and Pope Leo XIII, his namesake.Traveling to Genazzano, Leo visited the Madre del Buon Consiglio sanctuary, a 15th-century pilgrimage site managed by Augustinian friars and elevated to a minor basilica by Pope Leo XIII. Addressing the gathered townspeople outside the church, he called the Madonna’s presence both a gift and a responsibility, offering a blessing before departing in a black Volkswagen. On his return to the Vatican, he stopped to pray at Pope Francis’ tomb in St. Mary Major Basilica.Earlier, Leo held his first formal audience with the cardinals who elected him, citing Francis’ 2013 mission statement and pledging to continue fostering a more inclusive Roman Catholic Church that prioritizes the marginalized. He reaffirmed his commitment to the Second Vatican Council’s reforms and identified AI as a major challenge, noting its implications for human dignity, justice, and labor.