Pope Leo XIV’s Magnifica Humanitas addresses artificial intelligence as a defining moral and spiritual question of the present age. In this episode, Fr. Tim and Fr. Mike discuss AI through the biblical contrast between the Tower of Babel and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, arguing that technology must serve the human person, real relationships, truth, solidarity, and communion with God rather than becoming a false center for human life.

Further Reading:

• Tower of Babel: Gen 11:1-9
  • https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2011%3A1-9&version=NABRE
• Nehemiah Rebuilding Jerusalem: Neh 2-3
  • https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%202-3&version=NABRE
• Magnifica Humanitas: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html
• Bishop Erik Vardeen on Magnifica Humanitas: https://coramfratribus.com/notebook/man-and-machine/
• C. Schindler’s discussion on sexual difference at New Polity:
  • https://newpolity.com/podcasts-hub/metaphysics-gender
  • https://newpolity.com/podcasts-hub/gender-in-the-soul

Fr. Tim and Fr. Mike discuss how Catholics can become more involved in parish life. They discuss how the parish is not a religious service provider, but a community formed by baptism. The faithful are called to show up, build trust, and offer their concrete gifts for the mission of the Church.

Further Reading:

• Role of the Laity in Ecclesial Law: Code of Canon Law 211, 212, 215
  • https://canonlaw.ninja/?nums=211,212,215
• Baptism: Catechism of the Catholic Church 783-786
  • https://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p2.htm#783
• Laities Share in Christ’s Mission: Vatican II, Apostolicam Actuositatem 10
  • https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19651118_apostolicam-actuositatem_en.html

Fr. Tim and Fr. Mike discuss artificial intelligence from a Catholic perspective, considering how large language models can serve as useful tools while warning against their power to replace human judgment, personal voice, pastoral responsibility, and real communion with others.

Further Reading:

• Pope Leo XIV on the use of AI in homilies: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/02/19/260219e.html