Pope and co-founder of Anthropic to launch pontiff’s AI encyclical on May 25

Pope Leo XIV and Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah will launch Pope’s first encyclical on May 25, focusing on AI’s impact on human dignity.
The significant presence of AI expert Olah at the event hints at the Pope’s critical stance on AI, which could become a contentious issue with the Trump administration.
The launch, titled “Magnifica Humanitas,” will be held in the main Vatican auditorium featuring prominent cardinals and high-level guests, which departs from the usual Vatican press room setting.
Pope Leo XIV has shown significant concern regarding AI in warfare and advocates for rigorous monitoring of AI use, marking the encyclical as a response to modern technological advancements.
The document reflects the Pope’s broader concern about the societal and ethical implications of AI, comparable to historical encyclicals on industrialization and workers’ rights.
The encyclical is expected to contextualize AI within Catholic social teaching, addressing labor, justice, and peace in the era of AI revolution.
Anthropic is currently embroiled in a legal battle with the Trump administration over alleged retaliatory restrictions on its AI technology.
Anthropic’s valuation surged to $380 billion, aligning it with major AI companies like OpenAI and Elon Musk’s ventures.

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