Popes having their say on turning points in history
Pope Leo XIV is set to release his first encyclical, *Magnifica Humanitas*, addressing ethical concerns surrounding artificial intelligence, following a long tradition of papal statements on technological and societal shifts. The encyclical, signed on May 15, 2025, mirrors the 1891 *Rerum Novarum* by Leo XIII, which addressed industrialization, and comes as the Church continues to weigh in on modern challenges like media, nuclear disarmament, and digital communication.
Vatican City — Pope Leo XIV will soon release *Magnifica Humanitas*, his first encyclical, focusing on the ethical dilemmas posed by artificial intelligence. The document, signed on May 15, 2025, marks a continuation of the Church’s tradition of addressing major societal transformations through papal teachings. Leo XIV explicitly linked his name to Leo XIII, who in 1891 published *Rerum Novarum*, a landmark encyclical on industrialization that balanced private property with workers’ rights, establishing Catholic social doctrine. The Vatican’s engagement with technology spans over a century. During the mid-20th century, the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) issued *Inter Mirifica* (1963), acknowledging mass media’s role in shaping public opinion while urging responsible use. Earlier, in 1963, Pope John XXIII’s *Pacem in Terris* condemned the nuclear arms race, calling for disarmament and mutual control amid Cold War tensions. Digital revolutions also drew papal attention. John Paul II embraced the internet as a communication tool, while Benedict XVI warned of its risks, including fragmented relationships and misinformation. Pope Francis later critiqued tech-driven economic models, linking them to ecological crises in *Laudato Si’* (2015). Leo XIV’s encyclical now turns to AI, reflecting the Church’s evolving stance on technological progress and its moral implications.
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