The Vatican’s top diplomat in the United States has urged caution regarding the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, emphasizing that technological capability does not justify its application in matters of human dignity.

Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, apostolic nuncio to the United States and permanent observer to the United Nations, addressed these concerns during a panel discussion at Georgetown University on September 9, 2026.

Ethical Limits of Technology

The encyclical calls for a shared human effort to ensure technology serves the common good, though speakers noted it does not prescribe specific policy mandates. Instead, it establishes moral boundaries for innovation.

Archbishop Caccia stressed that decisions affecting human lives should not be surrendered to algorithms. He echoed the pontiff’s rejection of “artificial moral agents,” noting that the Pope has written it is impermissible to entrust lethal or irreversible decisions to artificial systems.

“Not everything which is possible to be done should be done,” Archbishop Caccia told the EWTN News. “Not everything that technology offers should be taken.”

Concerns Over Bias and Access

The nuncio highlighted practical risks associated with automated decision-making, particularly when algorithms rely on prejudiced data. He expressed concern that such systems could block access to essential services, including healthcare, employment, and security.

Pope Leo XIV’s teaching reinforces the idea that moral judgment cannot be reduced to calculation. The encyclical states that ethical reasoning involves conscience, personal responsibility, and the recognition of others as persons.

“Moral judgment cannot be reduced to calculation,” Pope Leo XIV wrote in Magnifica Humanitas.

A Call for Broad Engagement

Archbishop Caccia affirmed that the Pope’s call for AI to be “disarmed” extends beyond Church leadership. It addresses bishops, Catholics working in business, and engineers operating within the broader economy.

The panel included Jasmine Sun, a journalist covering AI and Silicon Valley, and Molly Kinder, CEO of the Breakwater Initiative. Their participation underscored the intersection of faith-based ethics and technological development.

The discussion reflects a growing emphasis on integrating Catholic social teaching into contemporary debates about artificial intelligence. By framing the issue around human dignity rather than partisan policy, the Vatican seeks to guide responsible innovation across sectors.