Pope Leo XIV Warns of AI Risks in Landmark Vatican Document

Pope Leo XIV is placing the Catholic Church directly into the growing global debate over artificial intelligence with the release of his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas (“Magnificent Humanity”), a sweeping document focused on protecting human dignity in the age of AI.

The nearly 43,000-word document was officially released by the Vatican on May 25 and addresses concerns ranging from automation and job displacement to misinformation and autonomous weapons systems.

According to the Vatican, the encyclical was intentionally signed on the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum, the landmark 1891 Church document that addressed worker rights during the Industrial Revolution. Pope Leo XIV draws a direct comparison between the industrial changes of the 19th century and today’s rapid advances in artificial intelligence.

Throughout the document, Leo argues that technology itself is not inherently evil, but warns that AI systems reflect the motives and priorities of the people who create and control them. He cautions against allowing artificial intelligence to replace human judgment in areas involving morality, warfare, labor, and truth.

The Pope also compares unchecked technological growth to a modern “Tower of Babel,” warning that societies risk losing their humanity if efficiency and profit become more important than compassion and relationships.

The Vatican included AI researchers and technology leaders during the document’s presentation, including Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah, who said tech companies need stronger moral guidance as artificial intelligence continues to reshape society.

The full encyclical can also be read through Vatican News coverage of the release.