Dear Friends,
In his recent Apostolic Letter Drawing New Maps of Hope, released to mark sixty years since the Church’s declaration on education, "Gravissimum Educationis." Pope Leo XIV invites us to reflect on how we are educating the next generation in a world transformed by technology and artificial intelligence.
The Pope reminds us that education must always serve the human person — not the other way around. While digital tools can expand knowledge and connect people across the world, they can never replace what is most essential: human encounter, empathy, and the moral wisdom that flows from faith. “No digital system,” he writes, “can replace the imagination, compassion, and creativity that make education fully alive.”
In our increasingly digitalized world, it is easy to let screens shape our children’s values, attention, and even their sense of self-worth. Artificial intelligence, though powerful, must be guided by ethical reflection and a deep respect for human dignity. The Pope cautions that when technology becomes an idol—when efficiency replaces empathy or algorithms replace discernment—education loses its soul.
As a Church, we are called to ensure that technology remains at the service of humanity. That means forming hearts, not just programming minds. It means teaching our young people to think critically, use technology responsibly, and value relationships over convenience. Catholic education, whether in schools, families, or parishes, must continue to cultivate the virtues of patience, compassion, and wonder—virtues no machine can replicate.
