A pope for the AI age

For Peter Noteboom, General Secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches (CCC), the election of Pope Leo XIV suggests the Roman Catholic Church intends to continue in the way of his predecessor, Pope Francis.

“He has indicated that he wants to continue Pope Francis’ teaching on synodality, human rights, concerns about globalization and of the marginalized,” said Noteboom, who is also a commissioned pastor in the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA).

Dignity of workers

Noteboom noted the significance of the former Cardinal Robert Prevost choosing the name Leo XIV since it connects his papacy with that of Pope Leo XIII, who was responsible for the founding document of Catholic social teaching, Rerum Novarum, issued in 1891 in support of the rights and dignity of workers.

That was a time when Christian churches, including reformed churches in the Netherlands under the leadership of Abraham Kuyper, were dealing with the challenges of the industrial revolution and the need for the church to speak into the realities of a changing world.

“Churches were grappling to understand what the changes at that time meant for workers,” Noteboom said, adding that was a time similar to this one with the changes being introduced by technologies such as artificial intelligence.

“The new pope seems to be suggesting he sees a role for Catholic social teaching at this moment in history, too,” he said. “By choosing that name it sounds like he intends to stay in that river of social teaching.”

Ecumenicism

Noteboom also expects the new Pope to pursue good relations with other denominations and church bodies, as Francis did.

“The early signals on that are promising,” he said, noting that it echoes the goal of the CCC to promote good relations among its 25 member churches, including the Canadian Council of Catholic Bishops, and many reformed denominations such as the Reformed Church in America (Regional Synod of Canada), The Presbyterian Church in Canada and the CRCNA – Canada.

At the CCC, they also pursue a version of synodality by “walking together, listening to each other and discerning together the mind of Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit,” he said.

Noteboom also expects Pope Leo to continue to pursue good relations with other faith groups since he has indicated that he, like Francis, also wants to be a bridge builder between different religions. “That was right in his first statement,” Noteboom said.

These are early days for the new pope, Noteboom noted. But already he is impressed by Pope Leo’s emphasis on peace and his commitment to unity. “His leadership will be a welcome contribution to this ongoing journey of faith,” he said.

Bridge building

Pope Leo XIV mentioned “bridge building” three times in his brief first address given on May 8, 2025, a phrase that ties him closely to Pope Francis’ legacy.

“. . . Christ goes before us. The world needs his light. Humanity needs him as the bridge to reach God and his love. Help us too, then help each other to build bridges – with dialogue, with encounter, uniting all of us to be one people always in peace. . .”