Pope Leo issued a manifesto on Monday, May 25, 2025, warning that artificial intelligence poses an existential threat to humanity [1, 2].
The move signals a significant escalation in the Vatican's engagement with emerging technology. By calling for a global treaty, the head of the Catholic Church is attempting to move the conversation from ethical guidelines to binding international law.
During a public audience with cardinals in Vatican City, the Pope released the encyclical titled "Magnifica Humanitas" [2, 3]. He said that unchecked AI development could spread misinformation and accelerate global conflict [1, 3]. The document argues that without strict regulation, these technologies may ultimately threaten the survival of the human race [1, 3].
While some sources identify the pontiff as Pope Leo [1], others refer to him as Pope Leo XIV [4]. Regardless of the designation, the manifesto emphasizes that the rapid pace of innovation has outstripped the current capacity for governance.
The Pope called on governments to enact strict regulations to mitigate these risks [1, 2]. He said that a unified global approach is the only way to ensure that technology serves human dignity rather than undermining it [1, 3].
“Artificial intelligence poses an existential threat to humanity”
This manifesto represents a shift in the Catholic Church's role from a moral observer to an active political advocate for AI governance. By demanding a global treaty, the Vatican is aligning itself with a growing group of technologists and policymakers who believe that voluntary safety commitments by AI labs are insufficient to prevent catastrophic risks.
