Opinion: Pope Leo reminds us of the value of our shared humanity : NPR
Opinion: Pope Leo reminds us of the value of our shared humanity : NPR
Publish Date: 2026-05-30 08:00:00
Source Domain: www.npr.org
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Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical letter, “Magnifica Humanitas,” addressing the rise of artificial intelligence.
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The encyclical compares the rapid growth of AI to the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, emphasizing the need to be cautious and responsible in its development.
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The Pope expresses appreciation for AI’s potential benefits in medicine, research, and education, but stresses its need to be “disarmed” — that is, regulated and limited to uphold human dignity and the common good.
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He expresses concern about the displacement of jobs and the loss of human purpose due to AI advancements, urging economic systems to prioritize human welfare over profits.
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Pope Leo argues that AI, despite its impressive abilities in data analysis and language processing, cannot replicate the human experience of growth through emotions, relationships, and spirituality.
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He warns against the risk of AI’s misleading potential to create false connections and advises using AI to benefit all of humanity, not just economic gains.
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The central question posed in the encyclical is whether humans will use AI to enrich both economic and human aspects of life equally.
