Pope Leo to address rise of AI in first major text on May 25
By Joshua McElwee
Pope Leo’s Encyclical on Artificial Intelligence: Key Themes and Implications
Announcement and Presentation of the Encyclical
VATICAN CITY, May 18 (Reuters) - Pope Leo will address the rise of artificial intelligence in his first in-depth text outlining his concerns, the Vatican said on Monday, adding that it would be unveiled on May 25 by the pontiff himself.
The document, known as an encyclical, is likely to decry the use of AI in warfare and address how the technology is challenging workers' rights, according to sources.
It will be titled "Magnifica Humanitas" (Magnificent Humanity) and was formally signed by the pope on Friday ahead of publication, a Vatican statement said.
Unprecedented Papal Presentation
Leo, the first American pope, will take part in a Vatican presentation of the text, a break from papal tradition. Joining that event will be Chris Olah, co-founder of the AI company Anthropic.
Popes do not normally present their writings in public, leaving that task to Vatican cardinals and press officials.
Encyclicals are one of the highest forms of teaching from a pontiff to the Church's 1.4 billion members.
Significance and Focus of the Encyclical
Papal Priorities and Social Issues
"A pope's first encyclical typically outlines his priorities, focusing on what he sees as serious social and moral issues for the modern world," said John Thavis, a retired Vatican correspondent who covered three papacies.
Monday's statement said the text would address "the protection of the human person in the age of artificial intelligence".
Workers' Rights and Historical Context
Church’s Guidance on Labor
POPE LEO EXPECTED TO ADDRESS WORKERS' RIGHTS
Leo has been speaking forcefully in recent weeks against the direction taken by world leadership, and angered U.S. President Donald Trump by criticising the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
The document, which has been in the works for months, is expected to address a range of social issues and may offer the Church's fullest guidance on workers' rights in decades.
Leo, the 14th pope to choose that name, signed the text on May 15, the 135th anniversary of an encyclical by Pope Leo XIII, who called for better pay and conditions for labourers.
Pope Leo’s Recent Actions and AI Concerns
Warnings on AI and Warfare
Leo XIV marked a year as pope on May 8, and has warned about the risks of AI several times.
He decried its use in warfare in a speech at Europe's largest university last week, citing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon and Iran as showing "the inhumane evolution of the relationship between war and new technologies in a spiral of annihilation".
Collaboration with AI Experts
Leo's invitation to Olah may reflect Olah's research into mechanisms involved in the neural networks that are the basis of AI.
Anthropic has clashed with the Trump administration, notably by insisting on guardrails restricting how its models can be used for military purposes such as targeting weapons autonomously or domestic surveillance.
Context: Previous Papal Documents and Economic Concerns
Recent Papal Writings
The pontiff released one other major document in his first year, finishing an apostolic exhortation started by the late Pope Francis that called for widespread changes to the global market system to address rising wealth inequality.
The last encyclical was issued by Francis in October 2024. It urged Catholics to abandon the "mad pursuit" of money and devote themselves to their faith.
(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; editing by Gavin Jones and Kevin Liffey)
