In first encyclical, Pope Leo urges world to ‘disarm’ AI amid increased reliance
In first encyclical, Pope Leo urges world to ‘disarm’ AI amid increased reliance
Publish Date: 2026-05-25 13:20:00
Source Domain: www.usccb.org
- Pope Leo XIV issued his first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” addressing artificial intelligence (AI) and urging its “disarmament” to prevent weakening human relationships, critical thinking, and peace.
- The encyclical marks the Catholic Church as a vocal participant in debates on AI, autonomous weapons, labor, human dignity, and technological power concentration in a few corporations.
- The document highlights both the promises and dangers of AI, with Pope Leo noting the need for more scrutiny and ethics in AI development.
- Pope Leo emphasizes that every person is unique and irreplaceable, stressing the importance of human dignity and consciousness amid technological advancement.
- Discussions at the unveiling included speakers like Christopher Olah from Anthropic and Anna Rowlands from Durham University, emphasizing the need for informed critics and ethical dialogue between religion and technology.