Pope Leo XIV issued his first encyclical on Monday, calling for stronger regulation of artificial intelligence to prioritize the common good over profit [1].
The move signals a formal intervention by the Catholic Church into the global debate over tech governance. By framing AI development as a moral issue, the Vatican seeks to influence how world leaders and developers balance rapid innovation with ethical safeguards.
In the document titled "Magnifica Humanitas," released May 25, 2024 [1], the Pope urged the world to slow the pace of AI advancement. He highlighted the risks posed by the technology, including the spread of misinformation and the fueling of global conflict [2].
Leo XIV said that the concentration of technological power among a few entities threatens justice. He argued that the current trajectory of AI development often favors corporate gain over human dignity, a trend he believes must be reversed through international cooperation [3].
"We must ensure that artificial intelligence serves the common good and not merely profit," Pope Leo XIV said [4].
The encyclical calls on developers to adopt a framework that ensures AI serves justice. The Pope said that without strict oversight, the technology could exacerbate existing social inequalities, and further destabilize international relations [2, 3].
This manifesto marks the first time the current pontiff has addressed the intersection of faith and machine learning in such a comprehensive manner. The Vatican is now calling for a global consensus on the ethical deployment of these tools to prevent them from becoming instruments of oppression [3].
“"We must ensure that artificial intelligence serves the common good and not merely profit."”
This encyclical positions the Catholic Church as a moral arbiter in the AI race, shifting the conversation from purely technical or economic concerns to a matter of global ethics. By advocating for a slowdown in development, the Vatican is aligning with a growing coalition of ethicists and policymakers who fear that unregulated AI could undermine social stability and human rights.
