Pontifical Lateran University holds first conference on Pope Leo XIV’s ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ encyclical

The Pontifical Lateran University in Rome hosted its first conference on Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural encyclical, ‘Magnifica Humanitas’. Organized by the Diocese of Rome, the event opened with Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Pope’s vicar for the diocese of Rome, who urged participants to reflect on humanity’s direction in the age of rapid technological change.

Rector Archbishop Alfonso Amarante outlined the encyclical’s structure, emphasizing that it is addressed to “all men of good will” and rooted in the Church’s teaching that the person is created in the image of God. Themed discussions brought together theologians, philosophers, ethicists and technology experts to examine artificial intelligence, human dignity and the need for a “culture of love” opposed to a “culture of power”. Speakers warned that AI lacks conscience and cannot replace moral judgment, and they contrasted transhumanist views that treat the body as hardware with Christian humanism that sees technology as a tool for protecting human dignity.

The conference highlighted the encyclical’s call for shared discernment, urging society to choose between a future shaped by unchecked technological ambition and one guided by respect for the ontological dignity of every person.