The Vatican has said a lot about artificial intelligence. A primer ahead of the pope's encyclical
Pope Leo XIV is set to release his first encyclical addressing artificial intelligence, emphasizing an ethics-based approach that prioritizes human dignity, social relationships, and peace. The document aligns AI discussions with Catholic social teaching and is expected to contrast with the Trump administration’s push for rapid AI development without regulatory constraints.
The Vatican is preparing to release Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, a document that will address artificial intelligence (AI) and advocate for an ethics-based approach to the technology. The encyclical, signed on Friday, marks a symbolic connection to Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical *Rerum Novarum*, which addressed labor rights during the Industrial Revolution. Pope Leo XIV has framed AI as posing similar existential questions, urging the Church to integrate its social teachings—covering labor, justice, and peace—into the AI debate. The upcoming encyclical is likely to position the Catholic Church as a leading voice in AI ethics, emphasizing human dignity amid concerns over AI’s impact on relationships, creativity, and reality. In a 2025 message for the Vatican’s social communications day, Pope Leo warned against AI replacing human connections, such as chatbot ‘friends,’ and deepfake distortions of truth. The document’s release could create tension with the Trump administration, which has prioritized AI development for economic and security reasons while opposing international regulatory efforts. The Vatican’s stance aligns with broader global discussions on AI governance, including the UN’s 2024 governance framework and the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act, which adopts a risk-based regulatory approach. The Church has previously issued ethical guidelines for AI applications in sectors like warfare, healthcare, and education, arguing that technology should serve—not replace—human roles. The encyclical’s timing coincides with the Trump administration’s push for AI advancement, including federal approvals for high-end AI chips and business engagements with tech leaders like Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang during a recent China visit. Pope Leo XIV, a former math major known for his familiarity with technology, has signaled the Church’s intent to engage in AI debates from a moral perspective. His election-day remarks to cardinals highlighted the need to apply Catholic social teachings to AI’s challenges, particularly in preserving human dignity, justice, and labor rights. The encyclical’s release is expected to amplify the Vatican’s influence in shaping ethical AI policies worldwide, contrasting with the U.S. government’s focus on accelerating technological progress.
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