Pope Leon XIV issues ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ encyclical on AI and human dignity

Pope Leon XIV has released a new encyclical, *Magnifica Humanitas*, which addresses the moral and societal challenges posed by artificial intelligence. The document, part of the Catholic Church’s Social Doctrine tradition that began with Pope Leon XIII’s *Rerum Novarum* in 1891, warns that AI can amplify inequality, threaten the integrity of education, and tempt people to delegate judgment to algorithms. It emphasizes that technology should serve the common good and that education must preserve the “truth as a common good.”

The encyclical cites philosophical traditions, noting that “for an algorithm, error is something to be corrected; for a person, it can be the beginning of a profound change.” It calls for a partnership among families, schools, communities, and the State to ensure education provides time, reflection, and relationships that technology cannot replace. The publication has sparked discussion across the Catholic world about how the Church should respond to rapid AI development.