Pope Francis issued a warning on January 9 about the dangers of misinformation, particularly through social media and artificial intelligence (AI), cautioning that these tools could be “misused to manipulate minds.”
In his annual New Year’s address to diplomats at the Vatican, the Pope highlighted the growing polarization in society, exacerbated by the spread of fake news. He noted that such misinformation not only distorts facts but also skews perceptions, creating false images of reality and fostering a climate of suspicion, which can lead to hate, erode people’s sense of security, and destabilize nations.
His comments came just days after Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announced it would end its third-party fact-checking program in the U.S., opting instead for a crowd-sourced model to combat misinformation, similar to the one used by Elon Musk’s X.
Addressing political leaders, the Pope said, “In our time, the denial of self-evident truths seems to have gained the upper hand.” He warned that such tendencies could be amplified by modern communication media and AI, which could be exploited for economic, political, and ideological manipulation.
The 88-year-old pontiff, who has led the Catholic Church since 2013, stressed the importance of media literacy to foster critical thinking. Although he could not deliver the speech himself due to a cold, it was read on his behalf by a senior cleric.
In his address, Pope Francis also spoke out against “cancel culture,” which, he said, “tolerates no differences” and prioritizes individual rights over responsibilities toward others, especially the vulnerable.
He also expressed concern over attempts to manipulate multilateral agreements, such as altering the meaning of terms or reinterpreting human rights treaties to push divisive ideologies. He specifically criticized the concept of a “right to abortion,” which he argued contradicts fundamental human rights, particularly the right to life.
Finally, the Pope cautioned that multilateral institutions risk becoming “like-minded clubs” that exclude differing views, undermining their ability to ensure peace and stability.
