Pope Leo's Unsettling Vision of the AI Future
Pope Leo XIV has released his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, addressing the implications of artificial intelligence. The document highlights both the dangers and potential benefits of AI, emphasizing the need for humane values in its development. Leo also critiques the philosophies of transhumanism and posthumanism, warning against the devaluation of human life.
- ▪Pope Leo XIV's encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, focuses on safeguarding humanity in the age of AI.
- ▪The document outlines concerns about AI-driven unemployment and environmental degradation.
- ▪Leo condemns the use of AI in autonomous weapons systems, emphasizing the importance of moral judgment.
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IdeasPope Leo’s Unsettling Vision of the AI FutureHis new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, seeks to counterbalance alarm with hope but lands firmly on one side.By Francis X. RoccaMassimo Valicchia / NurPhoto / GettyMay 25, 2026, 8:16 AM ET ShareSave The Vatican, as one aphorism puts it, tends to “think in centuries.” But Pope Leo XIV seems intent on changing that, moving with remarkable speed to publish his first encyclical today, Magnifica Humanitas, “on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence.” Leo has managed to produce a major teaching document on AI while college students are still booing commencement speeches about how the technology will change the world.
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