The Green and Cyber-Critical Pope: Francis’ Scientific Legacy

By Holmiolab | April 21, 2025

Reading time: 3 minutes

In a world where faith and science rarely sit at the same table, Pope Francis did something unexpected: he made them talk.

Yes, the Argentine Jesuit who passed away after weeks of hospitalization not only led the Catholic Church—he also paved the way for a new environmental and technological ethics. At Holmiolab, where we believe science is also culture, we want to pay tribute to him in our own way.

1. The Planet as Our Common Home

In 2015, Francis published Laudato Si’, an encyclical that could’ve come straight out of a climate summit (or a mural in our store). He called for a global “ecological conversion,” condemned the economic abuse of the Earth, and proposed—no less—that ecocide be recognized as a sin.

A pontiff speaking about ecosystems, biodiversity, and intergenerational justice?

Science and spirituality hugged it out.

2. Faith + Science = Humanity

In one of many audiences with scientists, Francis made it clear: science is no enemy of faith.

He said: “I encourage you to go to the outskirts of human knowledge—there, we can encounter the God of love.”

You don’t need to believe in divinity to understand what he meant: a reverence for knowledge, for the pursuit of truth, and for one another.

3. Artificial Intelligence Under the Microscope

Francis was also ahead of his time in warning about the risks of AI. At the G7 summit in 2024, he called it “fascinating and dangerous” and urged for ethical regulation. It wasn’t an anti-tech rant—it was a call to shape the future with responsibility.

He even addressed the deepfakes using his image, like that viral white puffer jacket that nearly turned him into a streetwear influencer. His response? Clear: technology must serve humanity—not the other way around.

Soulful Science

At Holmiolab, we don’t usually talk about religion. But we do talk about powerful ideas. And Francis left us one:

Science, ethics, and compassion don’t just coexist—they must collaborate.

A legacy unexpectedly close to our spirit: curious, critical, creative.