Pope Leo XIV signed and released an encyclical on Monday, May 25, 2026, calling for robust regulation of artificial intelligence [1].
The document, titled "Magnifica Humanitas," marks the first encyclical of the current papacy [2]. It positions the Catholic Church as a moral arbiter in the rapid deployment of AI, arguing that the technology must serve the common good rather than corporate profit [3].
In the text, Pope Leo XIV said that AI systems spread misinformation and may lead the world down a path of unending war [4]. He specifically describes AI-directed warfare as a "spiral of annihilation" [5]. The Pope expressed concern over the desensitization of society to conflict, stating, "We are growing accustomed to violence" [6].
The Vatican is urging governments and developers to implement safeguards to protect human dignity, and the rights of workers [7]. The encyclical suggests that without international oversight, AI could exacerbate global exploitation and instability [3].
While some reports previously indicated the document was still weeks away, the Vatican officially released the text in Vatican City on Monday [1, 8]. The call for regulation focuses on preventing the technology from undermining human agency, or fueling autonomous weapons systems [4].
Pope Leo XIV said that the goal of the encyclical is to ensure that technological progress does not come at the cost of humanity's moral fabric [3].
“AI-directed warfare is a ‘spiral of annihilation’.”
By issuing 'Magnifica Humanitas,' the Vatican is attempting to shift the global AI conversation from technical efficiency to ethical survival. This move pressures secular governments to move beyond voluntary industry guidelines toward binding international regulations, particularly regarding autonomous weaponry and the economic displacement of workers.
