Pope Leo XIV’s AI encyclical drives worldwide debate on ethical technology

In May, Pope Leo XIV issued his first encyclical, *Magnifica Humanitas*, which centers on safeguarding human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence. The document was presented to participants of the UN’s AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, where the Pope affirmed the Holy See’s openness to dialogue with secular bodies and warned of serious concerns about AI misuse, loss of human agency, and the need for stronger human control over autonomous systems.

The encyclical has prompted commentary across sectors. Spanish banker Javier Marín urged entrepreneurs to read the text, highlighting its call for ethical AI that protects human labor. Brazilian scholar Ives Gandra emphasized the Pope’s reconciliation of science and faith, warning that AI could repeat the labour‑disrupting patterns of the Industrial Revolution if left unchecked. In North America, legal experts linked the Pope’s teachings to workplace‑religion accommodation debates, noting that employees might cite the encyclical when seeking exemption from AI‑driven tasks under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Philosophical analyses in Portuguese and Spanish echo the Vatican’s critique of modern rationalism, portraying AI as the latest expression of a reason‑driven paradigm that risks alienating humanity from compassion, spirituality, and ecological stewardship.