Pope Leo XIV’s AI encyclical Magnifica Humanitas sparks worldwide debate

Pope Leo XIV has issued Magnifica Humanitas, the first papal encyclical devoted entirely to artificial intelligence. The 100‑page document links the new technological revolution to the social teachings of the Church, recalling Rerum Novarum, and warns that unchecked AI could lead to a form of technofascism. It stresses that human dignity, rooted in the Incarnation, cannot be reduced to data or algorithmic efficiency and that machines lack the capacity for love, pain or conscience.

The encyclical has prompted discussions and events in several countries. In Italy, theologians and lay groups held a public forum in Asti to explore how technology can serve the common good. Brazilian commentators highlighted the Pope’s warning that “who controls AI will impose his moral vision.” In Chile, university panels examined the ethical challenges for work, education and democracy. Across these debates, speakers emphasized the need for ethical regulation, public oversight of big‑tech power, and the preservation of personal freedom against algorithmic domination.