Pope Leo XIV issued his first [1] encyclical calling for artificial intelligence to be "disarmed" to protect humanity from technological threats.
The move signals a direct confrontation between the Catholic Church and the rapid pace of global tech development. By urging governments and companies to slow the rollout of AI, the Pope is positioning the Vatican as a moral brake on a race that he warns could lead to systemic exclusion and death.
In the document titled *Magnifica Humanitas*, the Pope argues that the technology must be regulated before it is weaponized. "Artificial intelligence must be disarmed before it becomes a weapon of war," Pope Leo XIV said.
He warned that the current trajectory of AI development could result in a new era of domination. The Pope described the potential for the technology to become a "new Tower of Babel" and said the world must prevent that outcome.
Beyond the risk of conflict, the encyclical addresses the economic and social structures supporting AI. Pope Leo XIV said ownership of AI data must not be left solely in private hands.
The Vatican's call for regulation targets both national governments and the private tech firms currently leading the AI race. The Pope warned that unchecked development could accelerate war and enable domination, exclusion, and death.
“"Artificial intelligence must be disarmed before it becomes a weapon of war."”
This encyclical represents a strategic shift for the Vatican, moving from general ethical guidance on technology to a specific demand for the 'disarmament' of AI. By framing AI development as a technological arms race, Pope Leo XIV is attempting to pivot the global conversation from economic competitiveness to existential risk and collective security.
