Technological advancements are not rivals to faith, pope says

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

Reflecting on the Second Vatican Council document Gaudium et Spes, the pope noted that while some thinkers suggest humans must distance themselves from God to achieve progress, this view is incorrect. He cited the late Jesuit priest Henri de Lubac, who called this perspective the tragedy of atheistic humanism. The pope explained that denying a relationship with God prevents people from affirming the transcendent value of human beings. Instead, he said the triumphs of humanity serve as signs of God's grace.

The pope also mentioned Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen as a model for using contemporary technology to spread the Gospel. Sheen is scheduled for beatification on Sept. 24 in St. Louis.