Pope Leo XIV is set to release his first major encyclical focused on artificial intelligence, signaling the Vatican’s growing concern over the social, ethical, and economic consequences of emerging technologies.
The document, titled Magnifica Humanitas (“Magnificent Humanity”), will reportedly address issues including AI’s use in warfare, threats to workers’ rights, and the protection of human dignity in the age of automation. According to the Vatican, the encyclical will be formally unveiled on May 25 during a presentation led by the pope himself.
The release marks a break from Vatican tradition, as popes rarely personally present major doctrinal writings. Joining the presentation will reportedly be Chris Olah, co-founder of Anthropic, whose research focuses on neural network interpretability and AI safety.
The encyclical is expected to become one of the Catholic Church’s strongest statements yet on artificial intelligence. Vatican officials said the text will focus on “the protection of the human person in the age of artificial intelligence,” reflecting mounting global concerns around automation, military AI systems, and labor displacement.
The timing also carries symbolic significance. Pope Leo XIV signed the document on the anniversary of a landmark labor encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, which advocated for workers’ rights and fair labor conditions during the industrial revolution.
Recent speeches by Pope Leo XIV have repeatedly warned about the risks posed by AI-driven warfare and unchecked technological development. The Vatican’s intervention highlights how artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming not only an economic and political issue, but also a moral and philosophical debate involving governments, religious institutions, technology companies, and civil society.
