Pope Leo XIV has revealed a new Vatican encyclical titled “Magnifica Humanitas,” cautioning against the potential risks of artificial intelligence becoming a means for “domination, exclusion, and death.” He emphasized the need for moral restrictions by governments and institutions on the swiftly advancing technology.
This encyclical marks the Vatican’s formal involvement in the global conversation about artificial intelligence as nations and tech corporations work to enhance AI systems with minimal international regulation. Drawing from Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical “Rerum Novarum,” which discussed worker exploitation during the Industrial Revolution, Pope Leo XIV argued that AI could be a similarly transformative force threatening human dignity today.
“Today we find ourselves facing a transformation of similar magnitude, with perhaps even greater consequences,” the Pope said.
The pontiff expressed concerns over increasingly autonomous weapons systems that could surpass meaningful human control. He also highlighted issues such as AI systems potentially hindering access to healthcare, employment, and security due to biased data. He equated the governance of AI to the control of nuclear arms.
“Like nuclear energy, it must be at the service of all and of the common good,” he stated.
In addition to disarmament, the pope urged for systems grounded in trust and human dignity, necessitating active efforts from governments and institutions. He mentioned the catastrophic floods in Peru as a metaphor for rebuilding trust and hope in the face of adversity.
The pontiff also underscored the enduring aspects of humanity that technology cannot replace.
“The person bears within him- or herself a freedom, an interiority, and a vocation to love and worship that no machine can replace,” he emphasized.
The Vatican aims to introduce moral theology into a predominantly secular technological advancement race. Pope Leo XIV reminded humanity to remain vigilant and retain moral judgement, cautioning against relinquishing it to machines.