Pope Leo XIV called for artificial intelligence to be "disarmed" and tightly regulated during a presentation in Vatican City on May 25, 2026 [1].
The appeal marks a significant intervention by the papacy into the global governance of emerging technology. By framing AI as a potential weapon, the Pope is urging world leaders to prioritize human ethics over corporate profit and military advantage.
The announcement occurred during the presentation of his first encyclical, titled "Magnifica Humanitas" [2]. In the document and accompanying remarks, the Pope said that AI could fuel warfare and dominate humanity if left unchecked [1], [3].
He said that the current trajectory of technology favors profit over the common good [1]. To counter this, he called for a slower pace of AI adoption, saying that the current speed makes war more feasible [4].
Leo XIV said that the international community must ensure technology is used for the benefit of all people. He said that without robust regulation, the risks of AI becoming a tool for destruction outweigh its potential benefits [2], [3].
The call for "disarmament" suggests that AI capabilities—particularly those linked to autonomous weaponry or mass surveillance—should be treated with the same urgency as nuclear or chemical arms [3].
“Pope Leo XIV called for artificial intelligence to be "disarmed"”
This move signals the Vatican's intent to position itself as a moral arbiter in the tech sector, moving beyond general ethics to call for specific, treaty-like restrictions on AI. By linking AI to the concept of disarmament, the Pope is attempting to shift the conversation from industry self-regulation to a global security framework.
