Pope Leo XIV's AI Ethics Encyclical Magnifica Humanitas Sparks Religious and Corporate Reactions

Pope Leo XIV issued the encyclical *Magnifica Humanitas* in May 2026, framing artificial intelligence as a moral challenge and urging humanity to prioritize the “human person” over technological ambition. The document references Biblical stories such as the Tower of Babel to caution against hubris, stating, “It was an impressive project conceived without reference to God…when a city is built on pride…communication breaks down.”

The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) responded with a statement praising the encyclical’s “moral clarity and analytical rigor” on AI, warning of corporate power concentration, income inequality, surveillance, and autonomous weapons. ICCR urged companies to adopt governance guardrails to mitigate AI risks and protect “the grandeur of humanity.”