Pope León XIV Cites Lord of the Rings in AI Encyclical

Pope León XIV quoted J.R.R. Tolkien’s *The Lord of the Rings* in his new encyclical regarding artificial intelligence, *Magnifica Humanitas* ^[1].

The move signals a strategic effort by the Vatican to frame the debate over AI through a moral lens, countering transhumanist ideologies by emphasizing human agency and the necessity of ethics in technological development.

Presented on May 25, 2026 ^[2], at the Aula Nuova of the Vatican Synod, the 110-page document explores the intersection of faith and emerging technology ^[2]. The encyclical also references the 135th anniversary of *Rerum Novarum* ^[2].

In the text, the Pope cited the line, “Nadie nos puede negar hacer el bien día a día,” which translates to “no one can deny us doing good day by day” ^[3]. This reference serves to stress that AI must remain a tool for human service rather than a replacement for human virtue.

Cardinal Fernando Chomali provided further context regarding the literary choice during a recent interview. He said that *The Lord of the Rings* reminds the world of the moral responsibility required when facing the power of technology ^[1].

According to the dossier, the Pope's use of Tolkien's narrative is intended to highlight the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of small, daily acts of goodness in the face of overwhelming systemic shifts. The encyclical seeks to ensure that the digital transformation of society does not erase the inherent dignity of the person.

While some reports indicated the encyclical was published on May 27, 2026 ^[4], other records show the formal presentation occurred two days earlier ^[2].