Pope Leo XIV is expected to sign his first encyclical today, warning against the ethical dangers of artificial intelligence [1].

The document marks a significant intervention by the Holy See into the global debate over automation and ethics. By addressing the intersection of faith and technology, the Pope aims to establish moral guardrails for the development of AI as it permeates global labor markets and governance.

The encyclical is slated to be signed on May 15 [1] and will be released to the public by the end of the month [1]. The text will reportedly focus on how AI impacts human dignity, creativity, and moral responsibility [2, 3].

Of particular concern to the Vatican is the application of these technologies in military contexts. The Pope has expressed a stark view of the risks associated with autonomous weaponry. "We are heading toward a spiral of annihilation if we allow AI‑directed warfare to proliferate," Pope Leo XIV said [4].

Beyond warfare, the encyclical will examine the socio-economic shifts caused by AI. The Pope is expected to address the challenges posed to labor and the potential erosion of human agency [2, 3]. The Vatican's position emphasizes that while technology can advance society, it must not replace the intrinsic value of the human soul, a quality the Pope suggests AI cannot possess [3].

The move follows a period of increasing concern within the church regarding the rapid pace of technological adoption. The upcoming document is intended to provide a framework for how the Catholic Church and the broader international community should approach the governance of machine learning and generative AI [2].

“"We are heading toward a spiral of annihilation if we allow AI‑directed warfare to proliferate."”

This encyclical signals the Vatican's intent to position itself as a moral authority in the regulation of emerging technologies. By specifically targeting AI-directed warfare and the loss of human dignity, Pope Leo XIV is moving the church's stance from general observation to a formal doctrinal warning, potentially influencing Catholic policymakers and citizens worldwide to advocate for stricter international AI governance.