Pope Leo’s ‘Magnifica humanitas’: AI must serve humanity not concentrate power
Pope Leo’s ‘Magnifica humanitas’: AI must serve humanity not concentrate power
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-05/pope-leo-xiv-encyclical-magnifica-humanitas-ai.html
Publish Date: 2026-05-25 05:31:00
Source Domain: www.vaticannews.va
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Pope Leo XIV has released his first encyclical, entitled “Magnifica humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence,” marking the 135th anniversary of Rerum novarum and addressing the challenges of artificial intelligence in society.
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The encyclical outlines five fundamental principles of social justice: common good, universal destination of goods, subsidiarity, solidarity, and social justice, urging a balance between technological advancement and human values.
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Pope Leo XIV emphasizes the need to ensure technology serves the common good and does not lead to inequality, discrimination, or disregard for human dignity, particularly for vulnerable populations like women and migrants.
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He advocates for an ethical approach to AI, including shared standards of social justice, protection of human rights, and the need to disarm AI from the mentality of competition and domination.
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The Pope calls for an “ecology of communication” based on truth, stressing the importance of protecting personal data, promoting serious journalism, and emphasizing the role of schools in cultivating a desire to seek and love the truth.
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He discusses the importance of human freedom and warns against the risks of social control arising from data collection and algorithmic systems in the digital age.
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Pope Leo XIV criticizes the growth of the arms industry, nuclear arms race, and the use of AI in warfare, advocating for strict ethical limits and the promotion of peace through dialogue and diplomacy.
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In conclusion, the Pope encourages the faithful to navigate the technological era in the light of the Gospel, maintaining the grandeur of humanity as a place where God dwells.
