Pope Leo urges world to 'slow down' on AI, apologizes for Church's role in slavery

Pope Leo XIV issued his first major document, *Magnifica Humanitas*, on May 25, urging governments to slow AI development due to risks of misinformation, conflict escalation, and unchecked corporate influence. The 43,000-word encyclical, released after over a year of drafting, demanded robust legal frameworks, independent oversight, and political accountability to prevent AI-driven harm. Leo criticized private control over AI data and warned of commercial pressures pushing companies like Anthropic—whose co-founder thanked him for addressing ethical concerns—to prioritize profit over safety. The pope condemned modern warfare, calling the past 60 years marked by civilian-targeted conflicts and framing peace as a responsibility, not a temporary pause. He explicitly rejected the 'just war' theory, long used to justify military action, stating it had become outdated and harmful to civilian populations. Leo also cautioned against leaders using war as a distraction from domestic issues, framing armed conflict as a tool for political manipulation. Anthropic’s co-founder, Chris Olah, acknowledged the tension between commercial incentives and ethical AI development during a Vatican event. The encyclical’s release follows Leo’s rising criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump, including opposition to the Iran war, which officials like Vice President JD Vance had defended using the same doctrine Leo now repudiates. Beyond AI, the document lamented the decline of multilateral organizations and the arms industry’s role in prolonging conflicts. Leo emphasized relational poverty as the root of violence, urging a shift toward diplomacy and human-centered solutions. The encyclical’s broad scope reflects the Vatican’s expanding influence on global tech and geopolitical debates.