Pope Leo’s unfashionable universalism
Pope Leo XIV's encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, addresses the challenges posed by artificial intelligence while advocating for moral and political universalism. The document emphasizes the need for a universal truth about the good, which is threatened by various irrational ideologies. Despite facing criticism from traditionalists, the encyclical seeks to blend classical philosophy with modern social issues, echoing the teachings of Pope Leo XIII.
- ▪Pope Leo XIV's encyclical focuses on moral and political universalism amidst the rise of AI.
- ▪The document acknowledges the achievements of modernity while advocating for a renewal of universal reason.
- ▪Critics within the Church label the pope as too modern and insufficiently traditional.
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Pope Leo’s unfashionable universalism His new encyclical isn’t really about AI Anthropic’s Christopher Olah shakes hands with Pope Leo XIV. Credit: Getty Anthropic’s Christopher Olah shakes hands with Pope Leo XIV. Credit: Getty aiAnthropicArtificial intellienceCatholic social teachingCatholicismPope Leo XIV Sohrab Ahmari May 26 2026 - 3:32pm 6 mins A two-millennia-old institution with one foot in the Roman Empire challenges Silicon Valley’s masters of AI and automation to do better. That’s the generic read on Pope Leo XIV’s debut encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, dramatized by photos from the Vatican of the pontiff shaking hands with Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at UnHerd.
