Tech Giants Converge on Vatican, Reasons Revealed

Several representatives of global tech giants met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. The meeting on 29 April 2026 addressed child protection in the age of artificial intelligence.

Attendees included Benoit Tabaka, Google’s director of institutional and public policy for Southern Europe; Claire Scharwatt, head of public policy at Amazon France; and Claudia Trivilino, public policy manager for Italy and Greece at Meta.

Discussions extended beyond child protection to AI’s impact on social interactions, with one participant noting the talks were more humanistic than theological.

One attendee highlighted that the Vatican does not reject technology but seeks to deploy it in service of humanity.

Politico cited seven sources stating the discussions formed a covert lobbying effort by tech giants ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, released last Monday.

Sarah El Hairy, France’s high commissioner for children, said the document could have wide-reaching effects, comparing it to Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical on workers’ rights during the industrial revolution.

‘The Pope’s encyclical could have a major impact, similar to Leo XIII’s which helped establish a comprehensive vision for regulating the industrial revolution,’ she added, quoted on Tuesday, 26 May 2026.

Pope Leo XIV has long been closely associated with technology, signalling from the outset that AI would be central to his papacy.

His name references Leo XIII, famed for defending human dignity, particularly workers. Politico noted this suggests his teachings respond to a new industrial revolution and AI advancements.

Leo XIV is also closely aligned with modernity and current technology, notably seen wearing an Apple Watch during his first Mass.