The Patrick Madrid Show An AI Hoax That Tried to Mimic Pope Leo (Special Podcast Highlight)
Patrick Madrid and Producer Cyrus are on the front lines defending your digital discernment!
There’s a 36-minute AI-generated video on YouTube that’s being passed around as a “historic” speech by Pope Leo XIV. It's not actually from him.
The video kicks off with a flowery intro supposedly addressing President Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso.
The Vatican News has already squashed it, putting out an alert saying the speech was 100% AI fakery, complete with lip-syncing tech that makes it look like the Pope is speaking... but he’s not.
Patrick compared today’s AI technology to seeing Star Wars in 1977: it blew his mind then, but looking back... just models and strings. Now, AI has that same wow-factor... but don’t be fooled. The tech is crazy good, and people are falling for it left and right.
Cyrus Chimes In: “How Do We Even Know What’s Real Anymore?”
Cyrus is feeling it too: the confusion, the uncertainty. Every day the tech gets better, and even people like them (who live and breathe this stuff) have to double-check what they’re seeing.
So, what’s the fix?
Your Catholic Digital Survival Kit:
Patrick & Cyrus laid out some super practical tips:
Trust Only Verified Sources: Vatican News, the official Vatican Press Office, etc. Not random YouTubers.
Clean Your Feed: Block accounts that post fake news or manipulate the truth. If someone lies to you online... buh-bye.
Stay Suspicious (in a Holy Way): In today’s world, don’t believe it just because it looks real. Ask questions. Check sources. Be holy and savvy.
Final Thought:
It’s about truth, trust, and staying grounded in Christ when the world gets digitally chaotic. Patrick and Cyrus are calling Catholics to discernment, vigilance, and maybe a little bit of digital housecleaning.