ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV warned Friday that artificial intelligence could negatively impact the intellectual, neurological and spiritual development of young people as he pressed one of the priorities of his young pontificate.

Pope Leo XIV on Friday issued a warning about the dangers of artificial intelligence as a threat to human dignity, particularly for impressionable young people. The message was directed to participants of the annual conference on artificial intelligence and technology ethics in Rome.

This is Pope Leo's first exclusive statement focused entirely on artificial intelligence, although he has frequently addressed its dangers since his election on May 8.