America at a Crossroads: Balancing Faith, Reason, and Artificial Intelligence, by Mark Henry

By Mark Henry, Crisis Magazine, June 3, 2025

Mark Henry is a Catholic attorney, author, and philanthropic advisor. Mark is the author of Finish Faithful, The ABCs of Planned Giving, and other publications and resource materials. He can be reached on 𝕏 @MarkHenry261775

Will Catholics have a say on how AI is shaped and in turn shapes the Catholic Church and the lives of the faithful?

When I saw the white smoke rising and heard the joyful cry of Habemus Papam! echoing from St. Peter’s Basilica, my heart swelled with gratitude and hope. The announcement that Cardinal Robert Prevost had been elected as Pope Leo XIV filled many of us with renewed optimism—especially American Catholics. As the first American to ascend the Chair of St. Peter, his election marks not only a historic milestone but also a providential moment, one filled with potential for moral clarity amid great ideological challenges.

One of the first encouraging signs was his choice of a papal name: Leo XIV. This is no arbitrary selection. As the Vatican press office reported, the name honors Pope Leo XIII, whose 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social crises brought about by the Industrial Revolution. In that landmark document, Leo XIII championed the dignity of workers, the right to private property, and the need for safe and humane working conditions. He also warned against both the excesses of unbridled capitalism and the false promises of socialism. …

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