Why the Pope Writes About AI — Pope Leo XIV's First Encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas"
Pope Leo XIV published his first encyclical on AI — "Magnifica Humanitas." The 200-page document was presented alongside Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah.
Why the Pope Writes About AI — Pope Leo XIV's First Encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas"
May 25, 2026 — SiTech.ge
On May 25, Pope Leo XIV published his first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas" ("Magnificent Humanity"), addressing "safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence." It is the first papal encyclical in history dedicated entirely to AI — and while AI is the hook, the problems Leo focuses on are older and far more pervasive: inequality, war, the erosion of democracy, and the concentration of power.
What Is "Magnifica Humanitas"?
The 200-page document was presented alongside Chris Olah, co-founder of Anthropic — a symbolic collaboration between the Vatican and a leading AI industry figure, working together to understand technology's impact on humanity.
The central argument is simple: technology built and governed by a small elite cannot, by definition, serve the common good.
"When such power is concentrated in the hands of a few, it becomes opaque and eludes public oversight, increasing the risks of distorted development, generating new dependencies, exclusions, manipulations, and inequalities."
— Pope Leo XIV, "Magnifica Humanitas"
Disarming AI
The Pope makes a specific call — to disarm. He demands an end to the AI arms race: halting the trend where companies and countries build "ever more powerful algorithms and larger datasets" to secure geopolitical or commercial dominance.
"To disarm means discrediting the assumption that technical power automatically confers the right to govern," writes the Pope.
"To disarm means discrediting the assumption that technical power automatically confers the right to govern."
— Pope Leo XIV, "Magnifica Humanitas"
The Power of the Tech Elite
The encyclical is particularly harsh on the technological elite. The Pope warns that AI "tends to amplify the power of those who already possess economic resources, expertise and access to data."
These elites, according to the encyclical, use their power to "shape information and consumption patterns, influence democratic processes and steer economic dynamics to their own advantage."
Historical Parallels
These problems are not new. Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical "Rerum Novarum" addressed the same concentration of power during the Industrial Revolution. Today, AI is simply a new manifestation of the same issues.
Pope Leo XIV consciously chose the name Leo to honor his great predecessor, who laid the foundation for Catholic social doctrine with "Rerum Novarum." The parallel is clear: just as the Church responded to the challenges of the Industrial Revolution in 1891, today it responds to the AI revolution.
As Paolo Carozza (Professor at Notre Dame Law School, member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, and chair of the Meta Oversight Board) notes, AI-driven misinformation and deepfakes have "corroded our capacity to recognize what's true and what's not true, with serious consequences for democratic politics."
The Political Context
The encyclical was published just days after President Donald Trump delayed signing his AI executive order that would have given government oversight over new AI models before release. The decision was reportedly influenced by venture capitalist and former White House AI czar David Sacks.
This perfectly illustrates what the Pope is talking about: the tech elite directly shapes policy for their own interests, while the public interest takes a back seat.
What Does This Mean For Us?
You might ask: why is SiTech writing about a Vatican document? Because it concerns everyone who builds technology. As developers, designers, and tech entrepreneurs, we are shaping AI's future. The Pope's question is simple: who does our technology serve?
Pope Leo XIV is not anti-technology. He calls for AI to be guided by "clear criteria and effective oversight" rooted in participation from the communities AI will affect. This is a call for inclusivity — recognizing that technology governance cannot be the privilege of the elite alone.
Conclusion
"Magnifica Humanitas" is not merely a religious document — it is a significant contribution to the global dialogue on how artificial intelligence should be governed. A 200-page text presented alongside Anthropic's co-founder shows that the dialogue between technology and ethics is not only possible but necessary.
At SiTech.ge, we believe technology should serve people — not the other way around. That is precisely the message Pope Leo XIV sends us. AI can be the greatest tool for humanity's progress, but only if everyone — not just the chosen elite — participates in its governance.
Author: SiTech Team | Source: TechCrunch — Rebecca Bellan | Date: May 27, 2026