Cardinal Fernando Chomali said artificial intelligence will never equal human intelligence following the release of a new papal encyclical.

The analysis comes as the Catholic Church seeks to define the boundary between machine processing and human consciousness. Because AI influences global labor markets and education, the Church's stance signals a call for ethical guardrails to protect human dignity from unchecked automation.

Speaking in Santiago, Chile, the Archbishop analyzed "Magnifica Humanitas," an encyclical issued by Pope Leon XIV on May 25, 2026 [1]. The document addresses the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into society and the resulting implications for privacy and employment.

Chomali said there is an infinite abyss between humans and machines. He said that AI does not love, suffer, or think, and most critically, it lacks moral consciousness [1]. According to the Cardinal, these missing qualities ensure that technology cannot replicate the essence of human intelligence.

Beyond the philosophical divide, the Archbishop warned of tangible risks to the public. He cited concerns regarding the stability of employment, and the integrity of education systems. The Cardinal said that the lack of a moral compass in AI could lead to systemic threats to privacy and the fundamental dignity of the person [1].

The encyclical serves as a formal guide for the global church to navigate the digital age. It emphasizes that while technology can assist human effort, it cannot replace the moral agency inherent to human beings. Chomali said the world must remain vigilant against the belief that algorithmic efficiency is a substitute for human judgment [1].

“Artificial intelligence will never equal human intelligence.”

The Catholic Church is positioning itself as a moral arbiter in the AI debate, moving beyond technical utility to argue that consciousness and morality are non-computable. By focusing on 'human dignity' and 'moral consciousness,' the Vatican is challenging the industry narrative that AI can eventually achieve general intelligence or sentience, suggesting instead that there is a biological and spiritual limit to what software can replicate.