Pope Leo XIV’s ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ urges global AI ethics convergence

The May 2026 encyclical *Magnifica Humanitas*, issued by Pope Leo XIV, calls for a shared global ethical framework to steer the development of artificial intelligence. It stresses the inviolable dignity of the human person, democratic oversight of algorithms and a total ban on autonomous weapons.

The document notes an unprecedented convergence among major world religions—Catholic, Greek and Russian Orthodox, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Sunni and Shia—each echoing the same core principles. Leaders such as Patriarch Bartholomew I, Patriarch Kirill, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, the Dalai Lama and Imam Ahmed el‑Tayeb have voiced support for the encyclical’s ethic, arguing that moral judgment cannot be delegated to machines. The text also warns that private trans‑national tech firms now dominate AI development, demanding collective responsibility to prevent dis‑humanisation and manipulation.