Pope Leo Unveils His Encyclical: AI Has ‘Even Greater Consequences’ Than Industrial Revolution| National Catholic Register
Publish Date: 2026-05-25 11:18:00
Source Domain: www.ncregister.com
- Pope Leo XIV personally attended the presentation of his first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” in Vatican City, a rare uncustomary gesture.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) company Anthropic’s co-founder, Christopher Olah, attended and expressed gratitude for the Church’s engagement in ethics surrounding AI.
- The Pope emphasized the great impact of new technologies, particularly AI, on various aspects of human life and emphasized the need for moral considerations in their development.
- Pope Leo XIV drew a parallel between the impact of AI and the Industrial Revolution while stressing on the evolving nature of war technologies.
- The encyclical aims to reaffirm human values in a technologically driven society and calls for ethical control and scrutiny over autonomous weapons and biased algorithms.
- The drafting process of the encyclical included listening sessions with scientists, engineers, politicians, parents, teachers, and voices concerned about technological misuse.
- The Pope likened the moral disarmament of AI to the long-standing efforts for nuclear disarmament, emphasizing the need for public control and moral guidance in technological advancements.
- The presentation was attended by prominent figures including Cardinals and theologians who emphasized the role of different sectors in addressing technological challenges ethically.