Pope Leo warns of AI’s risks to humanity in his first encyclical
Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical, *Magnifica Humanitas*, warning that artificial intelligence poses moral risks to humanity by undermining dignity and concentrating power, while urging ethical oversight and responsible governance. The document criticizes AI’s role in warfare, calls for constraints on autonomous weapons, and draws parallels to Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 response to industrialization, framing AI as a modern challenge requiring a 'civilization of love.'
Pope Leo XIV issued his first encyclical, *Magnifica Humanitas*, on May 15, 2026, declaring artificial intelligence a defining moral challenge of the era. The 42,300-word document argues that AI must serve humanity rather than dictate values, warning that unchecked technology reduces people to 'cogs in a system' and exploits creation. Pope Leo emphasized AI’s lack of neutrality, stating its behavior reflects those who design, fund, and deploy it, while calling for ethical oversight, social justice, and protection of workers. The encyclical condemns AI’s use in warfare, warning that autonomous weapons lower the threshold for conflict and violate the principle that force should only be used in self-defense. It highlights the 'growing ease' of deploying AI-driven military systems, which it says risks making war 'less subject to human control.' The Vatican cannot enforce regulations but aims to shape moral debates, referencing Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 *Rerum Novarum* to frame AI as a modern industrial revolution requiring ethical limits. Pope Leo XIV’s message was presented alongside Christopher Olah, cofounder of AI firm Anthropic, who acknowledged that tech companies face conflicting incentives and moral constraints. The encyclical promotes a 'civilization of love,' centered on human dignity, solidarity, and truth, while criticizing systems that reduce people to data or economic functions. It symbolically mirrors *Rerum Novarum*’s response to industrialization, positioning AI as a revolutionary force demanding ethical accountability. Though the Vatican lacks regulatory power, its teachings influence global debates on labor, inequality, and economic ethics through Catholic institutions. The document urges governments and corporations to adopt responsible governance, ensuring AI aligns with human values rather than exploiting them. By invoking historical precedent, Pope Leo XIV frames AI as a crisis requiring collective moral reflection to prevent harm to society.
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