Pope Leo XIV called for a global moral and ethical code to regulate artificial intelligence during a presentation in Vatican City on Monday [1, 2].
The request marks a significant intervention by the Catholic Church into the governance of emerging technology. By framing AI regulation as a moral imperative, the pontiff seeks to ensure that technological advancement does not outpace the ethical safeguards necessary to protect vulnerable populations.
In his first encyclical, the pontiff requested a global ethical regulation for technology [1]. While some reports describe the document as a broad manifesto on the future of humanity, the core message focuses on the need for firm regulation [2].
The pontiff said the framework is necessary to safeguard human dignity. He specifically warned against the potential for artificial intelligence to become a tool of exclusion, warfare, or modern slavery [1, 3].
The call for a moral code suggests that existing legal frameworks may be insufficient to address the existential risks posed by AI. The Vatican presentation emphasized that technology must remain a servant to humanity rather than a master that diminishes human value [1, 2].
This initiative comes as global leaders struggle to find consensus on how to manage the rapid deployment of generative AI and autonomous systems. The pontiff's appeal targets the international community to establish standards that prevent the weaponization of AI, and the erosion of labor rights [3].
“The pontiff requested a global ethical regulation for technology.”
The Vatican's move signals a shift from passive observation to active policy advocacy regarding artificial intelligence. By issuing an encyclical, Pope Leo XIV is leveraging the moral authority of the Church to push for international standards that prioritize human rights over corporate or military efficiency, potentially influencing the ethical guidelines adopted by sovereign states.
