Leo XIV Links AI to Histories of Enslavement and Exploitation
Pope Leo XIV released an encyclical titled *Magnifica Humanitas* linking artificial intelligence to historical patterns of exploitation and enslavement, framing AI as a modern extension of systemic oppression. The document condemns the Church’s past role in legitimizing slavery and colonialism while highlighting the labor exploitation behind AI development, including child labor in resource extraction and trafficking for data collection.
Pope Leo XIV issued his first encyclical, *Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence*, marking the 135th anniversary of Leo XIII’s *Rerum Novarum*. The document reframes AI not as an isolated technological challenge but as part of a historical continuum of exploitation, drawing parallels to imperialism, slavery, and colonialism. Leo XIV explicitly apologized for the Catholic Church’s past role in justifying the subjugation of ‘infidels’ and other forms of enslavement, stating, ‘In the name of the Church, I sincerely ask for pardon.’" The encyclical argues that AI perpetuates ‘new forms of slavery’ by relying on invisible labor, such as data labeling, content moderation, and resource extraction, often involving vulnerable groups like children and women. It highlights dangerous working conditions in rare earth mining, where minors crush materials for AI hardware, while criminal networks exploit digital platforms to traffic victims—reducing people to ‘data’ or ‘packages.’ The pope warns that technological progress built on hidden exploitation contradicts human dignity, urging moral accountability beyond efficiency claims." The document critiques the digital economy’s reliance on unpaid or underpaid labor, including young workers exposed to disturbing content while earning minimal wages. Leo XIV frames AI’s rise as a continuation of systemic domination, emphasizing that its benefits cannot justify global subordination. He calls for a reevaluation of technological power, urging society to confront the ethical contradictions of systems that promise liberation while entrenching new forms of control." The encyclical was released amid growing debates over AI’s societal impact, positioning the Vatican as a moral authority challenging tech industry practices. By linking AI to historical injustices, Leo XIV frames the issue as a spiritual and ethical crisis, not just a technical one. The document’s release follows Leo XIII’s 1888 condemnation of slavery, reinforcing a papal tradition of addressing labor and human rights in the face of economic transformation.
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