Pope Leo XIV issued a new encyclical warning that profit-driven artificial intelligence development threatens human dignity [1].

The document, titled *Magnifica Humanitas*, arrives as global debate intensifies over the rapid expansion of AI and the concentration of power within a few technology firms. The Pope said that the current trajectory of AI development is fueled by a “god-complex” among tech elites [1, 2].

Released on May 25, 2026 [4], the encyclical calls for a human-centric approach to technology. The Pope said that AI must be ethically grounded and centered on God to avoid the temptation of building a future that excludes the divine [4].

The Vatican document warns against the moral hazards associated with the pursuit of artificial general intelligence when driven primarily by financial gain [2, 3]. Pope Leo XIV said that the concentration of AI power among a small group of elites poses a risk to the global community [2].

To mitigate these risks, the encyclical urges the implementation of strict regulations, and broad community consultation [2, 3]. The Pope said that the goal of technological advancement should be the preservation of human dignity rather than the accumulation of wealth or power [1, 3].

The Vatican's stance emphasizes a need to "disarm" AI by ensuring it remains a tool for human flourishing rather than a replacement for human judgment or spiritual guidance [3]. This call for a God-centered approach serves as a critique of the secular, market-driven logic currently dominating the tech industry [1, 4].

“AI development driven by profit and a “god‑complex” among tech elites threatens human dignity.”

This encyclical represents a formal effort by the Catholic Church to position itself as a moral arbiter in the governance of emerging technologies. By framing the AI race as a spiritual crisis—specifically a 'god-complex'—the Vatican is attempting to shift the conversation from technical safety and economic impact toward a broader philosophical debate on the nature of human existence and the limits of human creation.