Is Pope Leo XIV urgently directing our attention to the mega-ethical issue of our time?

Is Pope Leo XIV urgently directing our attention to the mega-ethical issue of our time?

Those of us who work, study, and pray in the spirit of Joseph Cardijn, Leo XIII, and the core message of the Encyclicals see a vision in the new pope that resonates with our understanding of Joseph Cardijn's work and with those who embraced his mantra in their lives.

Indeed, Pope Leo XIV is drawing global attention to what he has identified as the urgent and significant 'mega-ethical issue' of our time, with profound implications for human dignity, justice, and labor.

For Pope Leo XIV, the mega-ethical issue of our era is the question of "Who and what is a human being?" This question is central to numerous moral and ethical debates in the 21st century, especially as rapid advances in technology, most notably artificial intelligence (AI), challenge long-held understandings of human dignity, justice, climate, and labor: People~Planet~Purpose in Life~Prosperity for all human beings.

Pope Leo XIV highlighted AI as one of humanity's most pressing challenges. He drew a historical parallel to Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed the social upheavals of the Industrial Revolution. Rerum Novarum was at the heart of Joseph Cardijn's work. Similarly, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that the Church must now respond to a new "industrial revolution" driven by AI and other forms of emerging technology that threaten to redefine human relationships, labor, and ethical norms, demanding that we come to terms with and understand what it means to be a human being.

For you and me, our focus and considerations should turn to using the See-Judge-Act methodology:

Concerns about Artificial Intelligence:

• How do we identify AI as a significant challenge to humanity, raising concerns about its potential impact on human relations, climate, and social structures?

• What is our role in calling for ethical guidelines concerning the use of AI?

Emphasis on Catholic Social Teaching:

• Pope Leo XIV calls upon the "treasury of her social teaching" to navigate the ethical complexities of AI. We have a rich history in the work of the JOC movements, the encyclicals, and most especially in the documents of Vatican II. (Time to brush the dust off that book)

• Do we understand our role in stressing that technology should serve humanity, not vice versa?

By spotlighting AI as a central ethical concern, Pope Leo XIV urges the global community to engage in thoughtful dialogue and action to ensure that technological advancements serve the common good and uphold the dignity of every person. What it means to be human has always been a core concern for the Church and society. Still, technological advances have made it more pressing than ever. As AI systems become more sophisticated and integrated into daily life, they raise complex questions about autonomy, labor, justice, and the definition of human dignity- issues that Pope Leo XIV has signaled will be central to his papacy.

Is the JOC community ready and empowered to take up the challenge of refocusing our attention again on the mega-ethical issue of our time?