In an increasingly hyperconnected world shaped by technology, Pope Leo XIV invites us to reflect on the true value of human communication. His message for the 60th World Communications Day, published on January 24, 2026, is not only a text for specialists but a pastoral call that challenges every baptized person: what does it mean to communicate in the age of artificial intelligence (AI)?
From the beginning of the message — titled “Guarding Human Voices and Faces” — the Pope reminds us that the face and voice are unique, irreplaceable signs of the person. They are not mere data but the reflection of the dignity created in the image and likeness of God. In times when algorithms and digital systems can simulate faces, voices, or emotions, a crucial question arises: what truly makes us human?
Through this profound image, Leo XIV reminds us that communication must always start from the real person, with their history, their unique voice, their gaze, and their vulnerability.
The Pope does not reject technological innovation: he recognizes the benefits of AI and digital platforms in facilitating access to information and connecting people. Yet he warns firmly that technology must never replace human relationships or the personal responsibility to think, discern, and communicate with truth and freedom.
The challenge, the message emphasizes, is not technological but anthropological: protecting our identity, encouraging listening, and cultivating a digital community that is true, critical, and respectful of human dignity.
Leo XIV points out that when AI generates content without transparency — or when virality is prioritized over truth — there is a risk of eroding critical reflection, fueling polarization, and distorting reality. In such circumstances, people can become mere passive consumers of information, rather than free and responsible subjects.
His message invites us to avoid the trap of “simulated relationships”: we cannot replace human encounter with an algorithm, nor truth with a convincing imitation.
World Communications Day 2026 urges us to take on a shared commitment: it is not enough to use digital tools; we must form critical people, educate in media literacy, and build a communication ecosystem founded on truth and the common good.
This call resonates especially with religious communities and committed laypeople working in media, pastoral ministry, education, and evangelization: communication is a sacred service that dignifies the person and builds up the community.
Pope Leo XIV’s message challenges us to live a communication that is radically human, capable of guarding faces and voices in the face of the temptation of immediacy and digital artificiality. In times of AI and algorithms, the Church reminds us that the person and their dignity are at the center of all true communication.