Pope Leo XIV says technological advancements are not rivals to faith

Pope Leo XIV said during a general audience on September 23, 2026, that scientific and technological progress does not contradict belief in God. He stated that Christians should actively participate in shaping these advancements to ensure they support human dignity and the common good.

During his catechesis on the Second Vatican Council document Gaudium et Spes, the Pope explained that humans use intelligence and freedom to promote societal progress because they are created in the image of God. He noted that some thinkers incorrectly present God and humanity as rivals, suggesting that people must emancipate themselves from God to achieve knowledge and freedom.

The Pope cited the late Jesuit theologian Henri de Lubac while addressing these views. He also pointed to Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen as a model for using contemporary technology to spread the Gospel. Sheen is scheduled to be beatified on September 24 in St. Louis, Missouri.