Pope Leo XIV issues AI‑focused encyclical Magnifica Humanitas

Pope Leo XIV signed his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on 15 May 2026; the Vatican released the document on 25 May. The text addresses the rapid development of artificial intelligence, reaffirming the Catholic social doctrine that places human dignity at the centre of technological progress. It warns that AI could displace workers, concentrate power in the hands of a few programmers, and deepen social inequality unless ethical and democratic regulation is adopted.

The encyclical draws a direct line to Rerum Novarum, the 1891 encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, and frames the AI challenge as a moral issue rather than a purely technical one. It calls for the protection of truth as a common good, stresses the responsibility of individuals and institutions to promote peace and solidarity, and urges dialogue with other faiths and international bodies.

Vatican officials reported that cardinals in a recent consistory discussed the document in small‑group sessions, emphasizing the need to move beyond the logic of “just war” toward a “civilisation of love.” The encyclical’s themes have been echoed in commentary across Portugal, the Netherlands, Chile, Peru and other nations, highlighting its global reach and relevance to debates on technology, work and society.