Artificial intelligence is changing how people study, work, communicate and make decisions. But as the technology becomes more powerful, another question is becoming just as important: how should society make sure AI continues to serve people rather than the other way around?
That question was at the heart of a recent meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Monsignor Stuart Swetland, president of Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas.
Swetland met the Pope at the Vatican on June 3, 2026, as part of a delegation from the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities. The meeting came at a time when Pope Leo has been speaking more openly about technology, education and the need to build an ethical AI future that protects human dignity.
A Kansas City College President Meets Pope Leo XIV
For Swetland, the Vatican meeting was both personal and meaningful.
During the audience, Pope Leo XIV spoke with Catholic education leaders about the changing role of universities and the challenges facing young people in an increasingly digital world.
Swetland also presented the Pope with a vintage baseball signed by former Chicago White Sox player Nellie Fox, one of the pontiff’s childhood baseball heroes.
It was a light moment during a meeting centered on much bigger issues.
Behind the conversation was a growing concern among educators, religious leaders and policymakers about how artificial intelligence could reshape classrooms, workplaces and everyday human relationships.
Why an Ethical AI Future Matters
Artificial intelligence is already becoming part of daily life.
Students use AI tools for research and writing. Businesses rely on them to improve productivity. Governments are exploring AI for public services, while hospitals and researchers are using advanced systems to process large amounts of information.
The benefits can be significant.
But Swetland and Pope Leo have both argued that progress should not be measured only by speed, efficiency or profit.
An ethical AI future also needs to consider what happens to people.
If an AI system makes an important decision, who remains responsible?
If students depend too heavily on AI, will they still develop the ability to think independently?
If companies automate more jobs, how should societies protect workers and communities?
These are no longer theoretical questions. They are becoming part of everyday life.
Pope Leo XIV Places Human Dignity at the Center
Pope Leo XIV has increasingly made artificial intelligence part of his wider message about human dignity and social responsibility.
Rather than rejecting technology, his approach has focused on how technology is designed and used.
The central idea is simple: technology should remain a tool for human beings.
AI can help people solve problems, improve education and expand access to knowledge. But it should not replace human responsibility, meaningful relationships or moral judgment.
That human-centered approach is especially important as AI systems become more capable of producing text, images, recommendations and decisions that can appear increasingly human.
Education Has a Major Role to Play
Universities may become one of the most important places where society learns how to use artificial intelligence responsibly.
Students entering college today are likely to graduate into workplaces where AI tools are common. Simply pretending the technology does not exist is unlikely to prepare them for that reality.
At the same time, allowing students to depend on AI for everything could weaken skills such as writing, critical thinking, research and problem-solving.
The challenge for colleges is therefore not simply whether to allow AI.
It is how to teach students to use it wisely.
An ethical AI future in education could mean showing students how to question AI-generated information, verify sources and understand where automated systems can make mistakes.
It could also mean teaching students that human judgment still matters, even when technology offers a faster answer.
Swetland’s View on Responsible AI
Swetland has spoken about the need for clear ethical boundaries around artificial intelligence.
His approach reflects a broader concern that people should remain accountable for decisions made with the help of technology.
That means organizations should be able to explain how AI systems are being used, especially when those systems influence important areas such as education, employment, healthcare or public services.
It also means considering who benefits from new technologies and who could be left behind.
For Swetland, responsible AI is not about stopping innovation. It is about making sure innovation continues to serve the common good.
Colleges Cannot Ignore Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence has already entered the classroom, whether institutions are fully prepared for it or not.
Students can now generate essays, summarize research papers, translate languages and solve complex problems within seconds.
Teachers can use similar tools to prepare lessons, analyze information and reduce administrative work.
That creates both opportunities and concerns.
Used carefully, AI could help students learn faster and give teachers more time to focus on mentoring and discussion.
Used poorly, it could encourage shortcuts and make it harder for students to develop their own ideas.
The answer may not be banning AI completely or accepting it without limits.
Instead, colleges may need clear rules that explain when AI is useful, when it must be disclosed and when students need to complete work independently.
Ethical AI Future Goes Beyond Technology
The debate surrounding artificial intelligence is often presented as a technology story.
In reality, it is becoming a human story.
AI affects the way people communicate, find information, apply for jobs and understand the world around them.
It may also influence who gets opportunities, who makes decisions and how much control people have over their personal information.
That is why Pope Leo’s message has focused less on machines themselves and more on the values guiding their use.
The question is not simply whether AI will become more powerful.
It almost certainly will.
The bigger question is whether society will become more thoughtful about how that power is used.
What an Ethical AI Future Could Look Like
An ethical AI future would not necessarily mean slowing technological progress.
It would mean setting clearer expectations around responsibility, transparency and human oversight.
In education, teachers would still guide students even when AI tools are available.
In workplaces, employees would understand when automated systems are influencing decisions.
In government, people would have ways to challenge important decisions made with the help of algorithms.
And across society, technology companies would be expected to consider human consequences alongside technical performance.
These ideas may sound simple, but putting them into practice will require cooperation between governments, universities, technology companies and communities.
A Conversation That Is Only Beginning
Swetland’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV is part of a much larger global conversation about the future of artificial intelligence.
Technology is moving quickly, and many institutions are still trying to understand what responsible use should look like.
For colleges, the challenge is especially urgent because they are preparing students for a future that is already being reshaped by AI.
The meeting in Rome offered a reminder that the future of artificial intelligence will not be decided only by engineers and technology companies.
Educators, religious leaders, governments and ordinary users will also help shape it.
And as AI becomes more deeply woven into everyday life, the most important measure of progress may not simply be how intelligent machines become.
It may be how well society protects the human beings using them.
Sources & Fact-Checking
This article draws on reporting and institutional material from Vatican News, The Leaven, the National Catholic Register and Catholic higher-education sources covering Monsignor Stuart Swetland’s Vatican visit and Pope Leo XIV’s public comments on artificial intelligence, education and human dignity
