Pope Leo XIV signed his first encyclical, Magnifica humanitas, on May 15, 2025, marking the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII's Rerum novarum. The document, published on May 25, addresses one of the defining challenges of our time: artificial intelligence and its impact on humanity.
The core message is not anti-technology. The Pope is clear that technology itself is neither a threat nor inherently evil. However, he argues that technology is never neutral because it takes on the values of those who build, fund, and control it. This is where the encyclical delves into complex ethical territory.
The Concentration of AI Power
A significant portion of the encyclical deals with the concentration of AI development and deployment in the hands of a few powerful corporations and governments. Pope Leo XIV warns that this risks widening the gap between those who are included in the digital revolution and those who are excluded. He calls for ethical standards shaped not by a handful of decision-makers, but by shared principles of social justice. This echoes centuries of Catholic social teaching emphasizing the common good over private interests.
The Pope specifically highlights how AI systems are often designed to maximize profit, engagement, or control, without regard for their social impact. He argues that this dynamic can lead to systemic discrimination, erosion of privacy, and the manipulation of public opinion. The encyclical urges developers and policymakers to consider the long-term consequences of AI systems, especially on vulnerable populations such as migrants, workers in dangerous conditions, and victims of abuse.
AI in Warfare: A Moral Red Line
The Pope takes a firm stance on the use of AI in warfare, writing that there is no algorithm that can make war morally acceptable. He argues that AI makes conflict faster, more impersonal, and lowers the threshold for resorting to violence. This, he says, is not progress in any meaningful sense of the word. He draws a parallel to historical weapons that were initially seen as strategic advantages but ultimately caused immense human suffering.
The timing of the encyclical is notable. In July 2025, the US Department of Defense awarded contracts to Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI to integrate frontier AI into military operations. These contracts range from battlefield decision-making systems to classified intelligence analysis. Anthropic eventually walked away from its deal in early 2026, citing concerns over autonomous weapons and mass surveillance. This move prompted a ban by the Trump administration. OpenAI stepped in almost immediately, signing its own Pentagon deal, which triggered a massive backlash from users, resulting in widespread uninstallation of its app. By April 2026, the Pentagon had signed fresh classified AI contracts with OpenAI, Google, and others.
The Pope's indirect criticism of these developments is clear. He calls for an international moratorium on the development of autonomous weapons systems and warns that allowing machines to decide when to take human life is a step back for civilization. He appeals to the moral conscience of engineers, executives, and political leaders, urging them to prioritize human dignity over strategic gains.
Technology Should Serve Humanity
The crux of the encyclical is that technology must serve people, not the other way around. The Pope calls for better labor protections in the age of automation, transparency in AI communication, and renewed attention to education systems that prepare people for a rapidly changing world. He advocates for legal frameworks that hold AI development accountable to ethical standards.
The document also addresses the digital divide, emphasizing that access to technology should not be a privilege of the wealthy. In an increasingly interconnected world, those without reliable internet or digital literacy are at risk of being left behind. The Pope calls on governments and international organizations to invest in digital inclusion as a matter of social justice.
Moreover, the encyclical touches on the environmental impact of AI, noting that the immense computing power required for training large models consumes vast amounts of energy and water. The Pope encourages the tech industry to pursue sustainable practices and consider the ecological footprint of AI systems.
A Broader Context: The Church and Technology
This is not the first time the papacy has engaged with modern technology. Previous popes have addressed media, genetics, and nuclear weapons. However, Magnifica humanitas is the first comprehensive papal document dedicated entirely to artificial intelligence. It builds on earlier Vatican statements, including the 2020 Rome Call for AI Ethics, which was signed by representatives from tech companies and academic institutions. That document outlined principles such as transparency, inclusion, accountability, impartiality, reliability, and security.
Pope Leo XIV has taken these principles further by applying them to specific situations, including warfare, labor, and data privacy. He calls for a global conversation that goes beyond technical experts to include theologians, philosophers, sociologists, and representatives of marginalized communities. The encyclical suggests the establishment of an international observatory to monitor AI developments and ensure they align with human dignity.
Reactions and Implications
The encyclical has already sparked discussions among tech leaders, policymakers, and ethicists. Some have praised the Pope for raising important moral questions, while others argue that the Church should not interfere with technological progress. However, the Pope is not calling for a halt to innovation; he is calling for a reorientation of values. He insists that the measure of progress must remain human — not economic growth, military dominance, or technological capability alone.
The timing of this message is particularly resonant as governments around the world grapple with AI regulation. The European Union's AI Act, for example, has introduced risk-based categories, but critics say it lacks strong enforcement mechanisms. In the United States, Congress has repeatedly struggled to pass comprehensive AI legislation, leaving the field open to industry self-regulation. The Pope's encyclical adds a moral voice to this regulatory vacuum, urging leaders to craft rules that protect the most vulnerable.
At its heart, Magnifica humanitas is a reminder that no matter how advanced technology becomes, the ultimate question remains: what does it mean to be human? The Pope answers that by invoking the central Christian belief in the dignity of every person, created in the image of God. This theological foundation provides a firm basis for his ethical argument, but the encyclical is also accessible to people of other faiths or no faith at all. It appeals to reason and shared moral intuition.
As AI systems become more pervasive, from healthcare and education to law enforcement and entertainment, the stakes grow higher. The Pope's warning is timely: if we allow a handful of corporations and military powers to shape AI without ethical constraints, we risk creating a future where machines dominate humans rather than serve them. The encyclical is a call to action for everyone — not just Catholics — to participate in shaping that future.
In mid-2026, the world is still waiting to see how governments and industry leaders respond to this call. Meanwhile, the Pentagon continues to expand its AI capabilities, and companies like OpenAI and Google face growing public scrutiny. The dialogue that the Pope has initiated may be one of the most important conversations of the decade.
Source: Digital Trends News