Pope Leo XIV Warns AI Must Be Disarmed in First Encyclical

Pope Leo XIV issued his first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas," warning that artificial intelligence must be "disarmed" to protect humanity [1, 2].

The move signals a significant moral intervention by the Vatican into the global tech race. By framing AI as a potential weapon, the pope is urging a shift from competitive corporate development toward a framework based on the common good [1, 2, 3].

Released from the Holy See, the encyclical identifies AI as the most significant challenge currently facing humanity [2, 3]. Leo XIV said that while the technology is a dazzling human achievement, it possesses the potential to fuel conflict and weaken the nature of truth ^[3].

The pope said that unregulated AI could create a "culture of power" that must be curbed [2, 3]. He called for the implementation of robust regulations to ensure that developers prioritize ethical considerations over profit, or geopolitical dominance [1, 2].

"AI needs to be disarmed," the pope said ^[2].

This call for disarmament suggests that the church views the current trajectory of AI development as an arms race. The Vatican said that without international cooperation and strict oversight, the technology may exacerbate existing social inequalities and destabilize global peace [1, 3].

Leo XIV said that the pursuit of technological advancement must not come at the cost of human dignity. He urged the global community to establish guardrails that prevent AI from being used as a tool for deception, or warfare [2, 3].