Society
Of The Divine Word

The theme highlights the challenges and opportunities facing communication in an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI). While new technologies can bring efficiency and wider reach, the Pope reminded the Church and society that they cannot replace what is uniquely human—empathy, ethics, and moral responsibility.

“Public communication requires human judgment, not just data patterns. The future of communication must be one where machines serve as tools that connect and facilitate human lives, rather than erode the human voice,” the message reads.

Pope Leo also expressed concern over the risks of AI, including the spread of disinformation, reinforcement of stereotypes, privacy violations, and the weakening of critical and creative thinking. The growing concentration of control over these technologies, he warned, raises deeper questions about power and inequality.

To address these concerns, the Pope called for the urgent introduction of Media Literacy—and more specifically Media and Artificial Intelligence Literacy (MAIL)—into educational systems.
“As Catholics we can and should give our contribution, so that people—especially youth—acquire the capacity of critical thinking, and grow in the freedom of the spirit,” he emphasized.

The World Day of Social Communications, instituted by Pope Paul VI in 1967 following the Second Vatican Council’s decree Inter Mirifica, remains the only worldwide celebration established by the Council.

It continues to be a moment of reflection and commitment for the Church to engage the world of communication with faith and responsibility.