Pope Leo called for the "disarming" of artificial intelligence in his first major teaching document released Monday [1], [2].

The encyclical, titled "Magnifica Humanitas" [3], marks a significant intervention by the Catholic Church into the global debate over the ethics of machine learning and autonomous systems. By framing AI as a tool that requires disarmament, the Pope signals that the technology poses a systemic risk to human agency and global security.

Speaking during a public presentation in Vatican City, Pope Leo said that "artificial intelligence needs to be disarmed" [1]. He said that the primary challenge for the modern era is for people to remain "profoundly human" [4] while navigating the rise of powerful technology. The document emphasizes that human beings must come before technology [2].

The Pope's concerns focus on the potential for AI to undermine human dignity and the danger of algorithmic warfare [2], [4]. He said against a "culture of power" that drives the development of these technologies [1].

In addition to the focus on technology, the Pope used the occasion to apologize for the delay of the Church in condemning slavery [1]. This acknowledgment, paired with the call for AI regulation, suggests a broader effort to address historical and future moral failings.

The encyclical arrives as international regulators struggle to create binding frameworks for AI safety. Pope Leo's call for disarmament suggests that mere regulation may be insufficient to protect humanity from the risks of autonomous weaponry and digital displacement [2], [4].

“"Artificial intelligence needs to be disarmed."”

This encyclical positions the Vatican as a moral arbiter in the tech race, shifting the conversation from technical safety to existential dignity. By calling for 'disarmament,' the Pope is not merely requesting guidelines but is suggesting that certain AI capabilities are too dangerous to exist, mirroring the language used in nuclear non-proliferation treaties.