Pope Leo XIV urges global AI regulation in first encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas”

Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, which places the protection of human dignity at the centre of the age of artificial intelligence. The document calls AI the “greatest challenge humanity is currently facing” and demands that developers use the technology for the common good, not for profit. It warns that entrusting lethal, irreversible decisions to AI would be impermissible and that AI‑driven warfare “desensitises” societies to the human cost of conflict. The Pope also issued the first‑ever papal apology for the Church’s historical role in legitimising slavery.

The encyclical has sparked a wide range of reactions. In Argentina, the Archdiocese of Mercedes‑Luján highlighted the Pope’s exhortation: “No temamos ensuciarnos las manos en la obra de nuestro tiempo” (MH 16). In France, commentators noted the Pope’s critique of tech giants that now wield more power than states. Italy’s Cisl union secretary Daniela Fumarola called the text a “strong call” to govern AI and protect workers, stressing that “AI can be a great support but becomes dangerous when it replaces human judgment.” In the United States, tech investor Peter Thiel accused the Pope of acting as a “Chinese communist agent” for urging regulation that could slow U.S. AI development. A Venezuelan analysis reiterated the encyclical’s warnings about concentration of AI control in the hands of a few large economic actors.

The document also addresses the rise of cryptocurrencies, noting that the financial system’s detachment from moral foundations can produce systemic crises. By linking AI, finance, and social doctrine, the Pope seeks a comprehensive moral framework for emerging technologies.