Pope Leo XIV presented the Church’s response to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, called Magnifica Humanitas, calling for AI to be “disarmed” from the logic of domination, exclusion and war. Similar to Realm Novarum, the Pope appealed to the international community to harness technological advances for human dignity, solidarity and the common good.
Linda Bordoni
During the publication of his first social encyclical, Magnifica HumanitasPope Leo
Speaking to those gathered in the Synod Hall for the presentation of the encyclical on Monday, the Pope said the current technological revolution is an “epoch-making turning point” comparable to the upheaval faced by Pope Leo XIII during the Industrial Revolution.
“Artificial intelligence is already impacting many areas of our lives and influencing decisions that shape human coexistence,” he said, noting that artificial intelligence “is also dramatically changing the way we wage war.”
New “Realm Novarum” moments
Drawing direct parallels to Pope Leo XIII’s landmark 1891 encyclical Realm NovarumPope Leo XIV said the Church today is similarly called to interpret the “newness” of the times in the light of the Gospel and human dignity.
he explained: Magnifica Humanitas They were born out of listening to a wide range of scientists, engineers, educators, political leaders, and families concerned about the future of young people. At the same time, he said he has heard “deeply disturbing voices” about autonomous weapons systems and algorithms that can deny access to health care, employment and security based on unfair and biased data.
That discernment process led to the conviction, expressed clearly in the encyclical, that “artificial intelligence must be disarmed,” the pope said.
Pope Leo XIV acknowledged the power of these words, saying that the current critical moment requires words that can “awaken the conscience and show humanity the way forward.”
Pope Leo releases encyclical at Vatican (@Vatican Media)
Technology and moral responsibility
Recalling the Church’s longstanding support for nuclear disarmament, the Pope said that every great technological power must be accompanied by moral discernment and public responsibility.
“In a similar sense, artificial intelligence now demands to be ‘disarmed’, freed from logics that turn it into an instrument of domination, exclusion, or death,” he said.
Quoting St. Paul’s exhortation to “be awake” (1 Thessalonians 5:6), the Pope warned that peace itself is at risk every time technology weakens humanity’s critical sense and moral vigilance.
But the Pope stressed that the challenge for humanity is not simply to curb dangerous technologies, but also to build a more just future together.
“No one can rebuild alone.”
Reflecting on his years as a missionary in Peru, Pope Leo
“It means repairing bonds, restoring trust and rekindling hope for the future,” he said, adding: “No one can rebuild alone.”
The pope then turned to the Biblical figure of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, presenting that image as a model for ethical construction in the digital age.
“Artificial intelligence can be the site of history-making in the intersectional horizon where we learn how technological progress can benefit human life,” he said.
Humans are at the center
Citing St. Paul VI’s teaching that true development concerns “each individual and the whole human being,” Pope Leo
“Man contains within himself a freedom, an interiority and a vocation to love and worship that no machine can replace or block,” he said.
The Pope called for cooperation between nations, institutions, technology developers and those most affected by technological systems to ensure that advances in artificial intelligence benefit the entire human family, rather than “a privileged few.”
“Civilization of love”
Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the Church’s desire to contribute “humbly and openly” to the global debate on artificial intelligence, not by offering technical expertise, but by defending the image of the human person, which is rooted in dignity, conscience and openness to God.
The pope called on all people to become “artisans of hope”, calling on believers and non-believers alike to work together toward “a more humane and fraternal society.”
Leave control to the Virgin Mary, Magnificat The Pope prayed that the “civilization of love” envisioned by St. Paul VI and St. John Paul II would continue to mature in history, “singing of the greatness of God who uplifts the lowly.”
Participants in the publication of the encyclical will receive a copy of the document (@Vatican Media)
