On Monday Pope Leo XIV unveiled Magnifica Humanitas, the first encyclical of his pontificate. The 200‑page text frames artificial intelligence as the entry point for a broader moral appeal: protect the human person in an era where technology can deepen inequality, fuel conflict, and erode democratic norms.

The pope did not launch the document alone. He stood beside Chris Olah, co‑founder of the AI startup Anthropic, underscoring the bridge between the Church and the tech community. Together they highlighted a central claim: when AI development is hoarded by a narrow elite, the resulting systems cannot serve the common good.

Leo XIV warned that concentrating AI power “tends to become opaque and evade public oversight,” creating new dependencies, exclusions and manipulations. He echoed a familiar pattern, noting that every major technological shift has amplified the influence of those who already control resources, expertise and data. The encyclical cites the ability of powerful actors to shape information flows, sway democratic processes, and steer economic dynamics to their advantage.

To counter these trends, the pope calls for “clear criteria and effective oversight” rooted in participation from the communities most affected by AI. He urges an end to the so‑called AI arms race, describing the relentless push for ever‑more powerful algorithms as a race for geopolitical and commercial dominance. Disarming, he writes, means rejecting the assumption that technical prowess automatically grants a right to govern.

The document draws a historical parallel to Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 Rerum Novarum, which addressed power concentration during the Industrial Revolution. By linking past and present, Leo XIV suggests that the challenges posed by AI are a continuation of long‑standing social questions.

Recent political events echo the encyclical’s concerns. President Donald Trump delayed signing an executive order that would have given the U.S. government oversight authority over new AI models, a move reportedly urged by venture‑capitalist David Sacks, a former White House AI czar. The pope’s timing—just days after that delay—adds weight to his call for proactive regulation.

Tech‑industry dynamics also feature prominently. Leo XIV points to Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter and the platform’s role in political campaigning, as well as the flow of hundreds of millions of dollars from tech elites into super‑PACs that oppose AI regulation. These examples illustrate how concentrated wealth can shape public discourse and policy.

Notre Dame Law School professor Paolo Carozza, a member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and chair of the Meta Oversight Board, reinforced the pope’s message. Carozza warned that AI‑generated misinformation and deepfakes have “corroded our capacity to recognize what’s true,” posing fundamental threats to cognitive freedom and democratic politics.

Magnifica Humanitas therefore serves as both a moral indictment and a roadmap. It urges governments, corporations, and civil society to collaborate on transparent standards, to involve affected communities in decision‑making, and to curb the competitive escalation that fuels risky AI development. Whether policymakers heed the call remains to be seen, but the encyclical marks a rare moment when a religious leader directly addresses the ethical stakes of emerging technology.

This article was written with the assistance of AI.
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