Pope Leo XIV issued his first encyclical warning that artificial intelligence threatens human dignity, labor, and the nature of warfare [1, 3].
The manifesto signals a significant shift in the Vatican's approach to technology, framing the rise of AI as a moral crisis that could lead to new forms of societal slavery [5, 6].
In the document, the Pope said the current technological trajectory is a "culture of power" driving the global tech race [1]. He said that the pursuit of AI development without ethical guardrails risks creating an "anti-human" technology that prioritizes efficiency and control over the common good [5].
The encyclical specifically highlights the risk AI poses to the workforce and the potential for the technology to be weaponized in warfare [4]. Pope Leo XIV likened the current state of AI development to a "new Tower of Babel," suggesting that the ambition of creators may outpace their moral capacity to manage the results [5].
Addressing the need for oversight, the Pope called for robust regulation and ethical frameworks to ensure that AI serves humanity rather than enslaving it [3, 4]. He said that AI is becoming a new test of human dignity and power [4].
Reports on the timing of the announcement varied between May 25 and May 26 [3, 4]. The document serves as a formal appeal to global leaders to implement oversight that protects the vulnerable from the disruptions caused by rapid automation [3, 5].
“AI is becoming a new test of human dignity, work, and power.”
By issuing a formal encyclical, the Vatican is elevating the AI debate from a technical or policy discussion to a fundamental moral imperative. This move puts the Catholic Church in a position to influence global ethical standards for AI, particularly in regions where religious leadership holds significant sway over social and political policy regarding labor and human rights.
