Pope Leo XIV issued his first papal encyclical on Monday, calling for ethical oversight and the protection of human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence [1, 2].

The document marks a significant intervention by the Catholic Church into the global governance of technology. By framing AI as a moral rather than a technical issue, the Pope seeks to influence how international regulators and tech companies manage the societal risks of automation and data collection [2, 4].

Released from Vatican City, the encyclical spans 245 paragraphs [4]. Reports on the length of the document vary slightly, with estimates ranging from 42,000 [1] to 42,300 words [3].

The Pope argued that AI is not a neutral tool. "AI is never truly neutral: it reflects the society that made it," he said [2]. He warned that without strict oversight, the technology could jeopardize workers and erode the inherent dignity of individuals [2, 6].

A central pillar of the encyclical is the conceptualization of information. "Data is a common good," the Pope said [4]. This position challenges the current business models of Big Tech, which treat user data as proprietary assets for profit [4, 5].

Leo XIV also addressed the potential for AI to be weaponized. He urged the global community to move toward a framework of restraint and safety. "We must disarm this technology," he said [5].

The document calls for tighter oversight of technology firms to ensure that AI development serves the common good, rather than narrow corporate interests [4, 6].

“AI is never truly neutral: it reflects the society that made it.”

This encyclical signals the Vatican's intent to position itself as a moral arbiter in the AI era. By defining data as a 'common good,' the Church is providing a theological and ethical framework that opposes the privatization of information, potentially aligning the Holy See with global movements pushing for more aggressive antitrust and data-privacy regulations.