Pope Leo XIV released his inaugural encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas," on May 15, calling for a safeguard of human dignity as artificial intelligence reshapes society. The document urges the tech sector to pause rapid expansion, curb deregulation, and prioritize the common good over profit‑driven ambitions.
The Pope stresses that technology is never neutral; it inherits the intentions of those who design, fund, and deploy it. He links his papal name to Leo XIII’s 1891 social‑justice letter, marking the anniversary of that historic call for better worker conditions. Earlier in the year, Leo XIV warned that AI‑generated content threatens creative industries by turning people into passive consumers of anonymous products.
Magnifica Humanitas also critiques the use of AI in remote warfare, warning that autonomous systems can lower the threshold for violence and obscure accountability. The Pope rejects the notion that large language models possess consciousness, noting they lack lived experience, emotions, and moral judgment. He calls for global oversight to ensure AI development serves humanity rather than a narrow elite, and invites continued dialogue on ethical regulation.
