VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV on Monday called for the “disarming” of artificial intelligence and warned against exploitation, autonomous weapons, and the concentration of technological power in his first encyclical focused on AI.
Leo presented the encyclical, titled Magnifica Humanitas, at the Vatican alongside artificial intelligence experts, including Christopher Olah, co-founder of AI company Anthropic.
In the document, Leo warned against the global race to develop more powerful algorithms and larger datasets for geopolitical and commercial advantage.
He said AI should remain “human-friendly,” accessible, and subject to public discussion and ethical oversight.
The pope also criticized the use of artificial intelligence in warfare and said decisions involving lethal force should not be delegated to technology.
Leo wrote that the “just war” theory was outdated and said no algorithm could make war morally acceptable.
Olah said AI companies operate under incentives and constraints that can conflict with ethical decision-making and welcomed participation from institutions such as the Catholic Church in shaping AI policy and ethics.
The encyclical also addressed labor exploitation linked to AI development. Leo said the technology relies on the work of millions of people, including content moderators exposed to disturbing material and laborers involved in extracting rare earth minerals used in AI infrastructure.
He said technological innovation and efficiency do not justify exploitative labor practices or environmental damage.
Leo also apologized for the Vatican’s historical role in slavery and acknowledged the Church’s involvement in justifying the practice.
He described slavery as “a wound in Christian memory” and asked forgiveness on behalf of the Church.
The encyclical was signed on May 15, marking the 135th anniversary of Rerum Novarum by Pope Leo XIII, which established the Church’s social doctrine during the Industrial Revolution.
The Vatican has studied AI-related issues for several years and launched the Rome Call for AI Ethics in 2020 to promote technologies that respect human dignity.
Experts said “Magnifica Humanitas” could have a global influence similar to Laudato Si’, the climate encyclical issued by Pope Francis in 2015.
