Pope Leo XIV has unveiled his first encyclical, a comprehensive 83-page manifesto titled “Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence,” at the Vatican on Monday, May 25, 2026. This eagerly awaited document, issued by history’s first U.S.-born pope, addresses the profound societal transformations brought about by artificial intelligence (AI), advocating for robust regulation and a shift from profit-driven development to a focus on the common good. Pope Leo XIV has declared AI to be the biggest challenge confronting humanity today, making this encyclical a likely benchmark in the ongoing debate over AI’s future.

The pontiff critically examines numerous areas where AI’s influence is pervasive, beginning with **democracy**, where he states that AI has become a “powerful amplifier” for disinformation. Through the manipulation of content, images, and videos, AI exposes individuals to “biased or misleading perspectives,” weakening democracy by substituting truth with pragmatism. Pope Leo warns that “Indifference to the truth leads, slowly but surely, to a descent to totalitarianism.”

Regarding **social media** and digital platforms, Leo asserts that those who control them wield immense power, which must be constantly guided by the pursuit of truth and respect for human dignity. He envisions the internet as a space where “inner freedom and critical thought can mature,” rather than an instrument of excessive distraction or homogenization, emphasizing that communication shapes culture.

In the domain of **labor**, the encyclical stresses the paramount importance of “the protection of employment opportunities and the irreplaceable role of the individual.” Pope Leo warns against sacrificing jobs for greater profits, declaring that “the human person is an end, not a means, and the economic order must remain subordinate to human dignity and the common good.” He also urges governments to foster conditions conducive to employment, recognizing it as a primary good for families and societies.

The pope also addresses the implications of AI in **warfare**, noting that it “can only bring conflict about more quickly and render it more impersonal.” He calls for concrete criteria for striking decisions, including an identifiable chain of responsibility extending to those who design, train, authorize, and employ technology. Non-negotiable requirements include guarantees of accountability and that the deployment of lethal force cannot be automated. Critically, Pope Leo XIV declared the Catholic Church’s traditional “just war” theory, which provides specific criteria for justifying force, to be “outdated” given the technological advancements in warfare. He also demanded transparency from AI developers to ensure accountability in the chain of command for AI weaponry.

On the **economy**, Leo observes that global wealth is increasingly concentrated, widening inequalities. In an age of AI and robotics, he argues, relying solely on the “invisible hand” of the market is no longer viable. He implores politicians to orient policies toward the “common good,” promoting dignified work, social inclusion, and an equitable distribution of innovation’s benefits.

Pope Leo XIV also highlighted the role of digital networks, including online platforms and anonymous payment methods, in facilitating **human trafficking**, which he unequivocally identifies as a “contemporary form of slavery.” He warns that tolerating or failing to respond to these practices risks complicity akin to past justifications of slavery.

The **environment** also features in the encyclical, with Pope Leo addressing the substantial environmental costs of AI data centers, which consume “enormous amounts of energy and water, significantly influencing carbon dioxide emissions.” He advocates for the development of more sustainable technological solutions, especially as demands for large language models escalate.

Finally, the document addresses the **youth impact**, calling for an alliance among policymakers, educational institutions, and families to help young people navigate the “culture of immediacy and hyperstimulation” fostered by digital media. He warns against providing personal mobile devices at too young an age and highlights how AI amplifies the danger of predation on young people through grooming, blackmail, and sexual exploitation, exacerbated by fake profiles, dangerous algorithms, and AI tools for manipulating images and videos.

“Magnifica Humanitas” also implicitly criticizes the “culture of power” driving the AI race, particularly in remote warfare development, and explicitly states it is “not permissible” to entrust irreversible lethal decisions to AI systems. This stance creates a point of tension with administrations favoring deregulation of AI. Despite these strong condemnations, the Vatican engaged with Silicon Valley, notably featuring Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah at the launch, as part of its decade-long effort to foster dialogue on the human cost of AI. Leo, however, repeatedly blasted the concentration of power and data in the private sector, calling for external regulation: “It is not enough to invoke ethics in the abstract; robust legal frameworks, independent oversight, informed users and a political system that does not abdicate its responsibility are required.”

The encyclical traces its roots to the Catholic Church’s social teaching, notably drawing from “Rerum Novarum” (Of New Things), Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 document on workers’ rights during the Industrial Revolution. This continuity underscores Pope Leo XIV’s conviction that the AI revolution poses existential questions as profound as those faced over a century ago. Christopher Olah welcomed the pope’s critique, emphasizing the necessity of external checks on AI development for the betterment of humankind. Experts, including Paolo Carozza of Notre Dame Law School, anticipate that “Magnifica Humanitas” will be a “defining document for our era,” urging humanity to ensure technology serves rather than degrades human beings.