Pope Leo XIV has denounced the 'culture of power' fueling the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, warning that the technology must be subject to the most rigorous ethical constraints as it permeates every aspect of life, from labor to warfare. In his first encyclical, titled Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity), the pontiff also issued a historic apology for the Catholic Church's delayed condemnation of slavery, calling it 'a wound in Christian memory,' and highlighted new forms of slavery emerging from the digital economy.
A Break from Tradition
Breaking with convention, Pope Leo personally presented the document on Monday at the Vatican, an event attended by Christopher Olah, co-founder of the US-based AI firm Anthropic, which is currently involved in a lawsuit with the Trump administration over AI ethics. Encyclicals are among the highest forms of papal teaching, addressed to the Church's 1.4 billion members, and typically outline the pope's priorities and major societal issues.
AI and the Normalization of War
In his encyclical, the pope, who was born in Chicago and is the first US-born pontiff, referred to 'a troubling revival of war as an instrument of international politics' and asserted that AI is facilitating the 'normalization of war.' He wrote: 'For this reason, the development and use of AI in warfare must be subject to the most rigorous ethical constraints, to guarantee respect for human dignity and the sanctity of life and to avoid a race to develop such arms.'
Leo urged the 'disarming' of AI, noting that some autonomous weapons systems are 'practically beyond any human reach' to control. 'Disarming AI means freeing it from the mentality of armed competition,' he wrote. 'To disarm does not mean rejecting technology, but preventing it from dominating humanity.' He emphasized that AI should be 'human-friendly,' accessible to all, and open to discussion and debate.
Targeting Silicon Valley
In a passage seemingly aimed at Silicon Valley, the pope warned that power over digital systems, infrastructure, and data 'does not rest with states but with major economic and technological actors.' He cautioned that when such power is concentrated 'in the hands of the few,' it tends to 'become opaque and evade public oversight, increasing the risk of distorted forms of development that give rise to new dependencies, exclusions, manipulations, and inequalities.'
Christopher Olah echoed these concerns, stating that AI development cannot be left solely to technology companies and urging greater oversight from religious leaders, governments, and civil society. He highlighted the 'real possibility' that AI could displace human labor on a massive scale, making support for displaced workers 'a moral imperative of historic proportions.' Olah acknowledged that companies like his operate under commercial, geopolitical, and personal pressures that can conflict with broader societal interests, underscoring the need for external scrutiny.
Apology for Slavery
Pope Leo, whose family history includes both enslaved people and enslavers, wrote on slavery: 'It is impossible not to feel deep sorrow when contemplating the immense suffering and humiliation endured by so many in stark contrast to their immeasurable dignity as persons infinitely loved by the Lord… For this, in the name of the church, I sincerely ask for pardon.' While previous popes have apologized for Christians' involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, no pope has ever publicly acknowledged or apologized for the role that popes themselves played in granting European sovereigns authority to subjugate and enslave 'infidels.'
Theological and Ethical Perspectives
Alongside two cardinals, the presentation featured theologians Anna Rowlands and Léocadie Lushombo. Rowlands, a professor of Catholic social thought at Durham University, said the encyclical 'brings the vision of the Gospel to bear on the cultures of AI' and warns of 'a growing culture of power that is reshaping work, family, education, and political life.'
The Vatican has engaged seriously with AI issues for years, holding regular dialogues with Microsoft, Google, and other tech giants. The pope expressed a desire to collaborate with AI developers to discuss proper use of the technology. Christopher White, author of Pope Leo XIV: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy, noted that 'Leo has put the full weight of his office behind the Catholic Church's efforts to be in dialogue with big tech.' He added that the pope approaches AI with humility, acknowledging that the Church does not have all the answers for AI regulation, but is clear that AI development should not be a 'wild west.'
Reactions
Christine Allen, CEO of the Catholic aid charity Cafod, praised the encyclical for speaking to the 'inherent dignity of humankind.' She stated, 'We are not simply instruments of production but living beings, entrusted with a moral compass. In a world full of imbalances, we have a duty to use AI responsibly. Today's message is that it should not be used to further exacerbate inequality and suffering.'
