Pope Leo explains the name: AI, workers’ rights

Pope Leo XIV said on Saturday that he had chosen his name in part in honor of Pope Leo XIII about his commitment to social issues and the rights of workers during the Industrial Revolution.

Cardinal Robert Presses was selected for Pontiff on May 8 and said the world is now facing new obstacles to workers’ rights – and wider humanity – because of the rise of Artificial intelligence.

“On our own day, the Church offers all the treasures of its social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and the development in the field of artificial intelligence, which represent new challenges for the protection of human dignity, justice and labor,” Leo said.

Leo’s remarks have provided one of the worst indications of his vision of leadership and priorities as a leader of Catholic ChurchS

Leo also suggested during his first meeting with the Cardinals after his election that the late Pope Francis“Lead for his commitment to social justice.

“Apparently he can see in the example of so many of my predecessors, and most recently by Pope Francis himself, with his example of complete dedication to the service and of the sober simplicity of life, his abandonment to God throughout his ministry and his calm confidence at the time of his return to his father’s home,” he said.

Francis, who has been a pope for 12 years, often has criticism of conservative cardinals who said he was watering the church’s doctrine on issues such as LGBT Catholics and women’s leadership.

Leo XIII, the partial inspiration for the name of the new pope, was elected in 1878. He is a prominent figure in the social teaching of the Catholic Church, especially around the rights of workers and working class.

Leo is the first American pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

Reuters contributed to this report.