Pope Leo called for artificial intelligence to be "disarmed" and urged strong regulation in his first encyclical letter [1].

The move signals a significant moral intervention by the Vatican into the global tech race. By framing AI as a tool that requires disarmament, the Pope suggests that the current trajectory of development threatens the core of human existence.

In the teaching, the Pope said that AI poses dangers to humanity and must be limited to protect human dignity and prevent misuse [2]. He specifically addressed the influence of major technology companies, describing an all-consuming obsession with the technology [3].

"Artificial intelligence needs to be disarmed," Pope Leo said [1].

The encyclical emphasizes a return to the value of human limitations. The Pope said the world must "disarm" AI, embrace human weakness, and focus on human dignity [2]. This approach suggests that the pursuit of machine perfection may lead to a disregard for the inherent value of human imperfection.

While the primary focus of the document remains on human dignity and limitations [2], some interpretations suggest the call for disarmament extends specifically to the removal of AI from power and warfare [4]. The Pope's first encyclical [1] serves as a formal appeal for global leaders to prioritize ethics over rapid innovation.

By calling for these limits, the Pope is positioning the church as a watchdog against the potential for AI to replace human judgment or erode the social fabric. He said that without strong regulation, the technology could become a tool of oppression rather than a benefit to society [2].

“"Artificial intelligence needs to be disarmed."”

This encyclical marks a shift in the Vatican's approach to emerging technology, moving from cautious observation to an explicit demand for restrictive regulation. By using the term "disarmed," Pope Leo is applying military terminology to software development, suggesting that AI is not merely a tool but a potential weapon that requires international oversight to ensure it does not supersede human agency.