Pope Urges Schools Put People Before Algorithms
Pope Leo XIV told an education audience in Uruguay that schools and universities should prioritize the human person over algorithmic systems in AI education.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Language Learning
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Pope Leo XIV urged schools and universities to place the person before the algorithm in education about artificial intelligence. He delivered the remarks at the Catholic University of Uruguay in Montevideo, at the start of an 11-day visit to South America.
Why it matters
The remarks frame AI education as a question of human dignity rather than efficiency, a concern the Pope said dehumanisation poses to schools and universities. The message applies to educators and students worldwide as AI tools become common in learning environments.
The remarks were made during an 11-day South America visit that includes Argentina and Peru. The speech cited the Apostolic Letter Drawing New Maps of Hope, issued in October 2025, and quoted St Paul's Letter to the Romans.
The players
Pope Leo XIV
The head of the Catholic Church, who has made the relationship between technology and human dignity a recurring theme of his papacy.
Cardinal Daniel Sturla, SDB
The Archbishop of Montevideo who serves as Grand Chancellor of the Catholic University of Uruguay.
The details
Speaking at the Catholic University of Uruguay, the Pope argued that people's reputations are under constant attack and that human dignity is being subordinated to efficiency. He framed this as a challenge to educational institutions as they integrate AI into teaching.
Timeline
October 2025: Apostolic Letter Drawing New Maps of Hope was issued.
November 7, 2026: Pope Leo XIV spoke at the Catholic University of Uruguay and began his 11-day South America visit.
Human-Centered Learning
The speech applies themes from the October 2025 Apostolic Letter Drawing New Maps of Hope to AI in classrooms. It positions the debate over AI-assisted learning as one about preserving human dignity amid efficiency-driven technology.
For students and educators, the remarks suggest that AI tools in classrooms should be evaluated by their effect on human dignity and learning, not only by efficiency gains. Institutions may face pressure to define how AI is used in teaching and assessment.
The takeaway
Educators can ask whether a given AI tool strengthens or replaces the student's own reasoning and dignity. Keeping the person at the center of decisions about classroom technology is the principle the Pope emphasized.
Further reading
For more on how schools are approaching new technology in learning, see Language Learning.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Tablet.
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