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TL;DR
Pope Leo XIV issued an encyclical asserting that technology, especially AI, is never neutral and must serve the common good. The Vatican’s choice to include Anthropic highlights concerns about safety and accountability in AI development.
Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical focused on artificial intelligence, asserting that technology is never neutral but reflects the characteristics of its creators and users. The document underscores the importance of ethical standards in AI development and highlights concerns over concentration of power and moral implications of AI-driven conflict.
The encyclical, titled ‘Magnifica Humanitas,’ was signed on May 15, 2024, marking the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum novarum. It frames AI as a modern equivalent of the technological upheavals of the Industrial Revolution, emphasizing the need for technology to serve the common good and uphold human dignity.
During the presentation at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV notably invited AI expert Chris Olah of Anthropic, a lab known for prioritizing safety and interpretability in AI systems. This choice signals the Church’s focus on accountability and transparency in AI development, contrasting with the absence of representatives from other major AI firms like OpenAI and Google DeepMind.
Technology is never neutral — and neither were the empty chairs
Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical casts AI as this century’s Rerum novarum moment. He presented it personally — with Anthropic’s co-founder in the room. OpenAI, Google DeepMind & xAI were not. For a “broadside against AI companies,” that guest list is itself an argument.
A Rerum novarum for the age of AI
The signing date wasn’t incidental. Leo XIV chose the 135th anniversary of Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical — and, by taking the Leonine name, cast himself as the pope who answers AI as Leo XIII answered industry.
The same move, 135 years apart
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Five chapters, one worry: concentration
The recurring anxiety is that AI’s power lands “in the hands of only a few” — and that a more moral AI isn’t enough “if that morality is determined by a few.”
A dynamic doctrine, faithful to the Gospel
Situating AI in the Church’s social teaching — the living tradition from Rerum novarum onward.
Foundations & principles
Human dignity that is “neither acquired nor earned”; the common good; the universal destination of goods — tech must not be held by a few.
Technology & dominance
The “technocratic paradigm.” AI can simulate a person but has no moral conscience or empathy. Calls to “disarm” AI from the logic of competition.
Safeguarding humanity: truth, work, freedom
The “new ways” of working aren’t always better; AI too often makes workers adapt to machines. Warns of an “architecture of visibility.”
The culture of power & the civilization of love
The hardest charge: “no algorithm can make war morally acceptable.” Argues even “just war” theory must now be overcome.
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Who was in the room — and who should have been
Leo XIV presented the encyclical personally (popes usually delegate). Among the AI experts: Anthropic’s Chris Olah. The other frontier labs? Empty chairs. Tap each seat.
The presentation · May 25, 2026
A defensible single invite — or a diluted broadside? Press play, then judge.
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A broadside delivered to one delegate
The Washington Post read the encyclical as one that “fires a broadside against AI companies.” A reckoning aimed at an industry is weakened when one member — the most safety-branded one — is present to receive it.
The encyclical’s hardest charge is about AI and war — and it implicates the labs that weren’t there.
Its most uncompromising passages condemn AI-enabled weapons and the lowering of the threshold for violence. But that lands hardest on the defense-entangled players and the leaders most explicit about military & geopolitical ambitions — not the lab that showed up.
Account vs. anoint
One sympathetic guest tilts it from “the Church holding the industry to account” toward “the Church beside its preferred firm.”
Concentration, again
A text whose deepest fear is power “determined by a few” launched by elevating one company as chosen interlocutor.
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Two things are true at once
The criticism is of the exclusivity, not the inclusion. Olah in the room was fitting; Anthropic alone was incomplete.
The most significant AI reckoning yet by a global moral institution
It grounds a critique of concentration, dehumanized work & algorithmic warfare in a tradition stretching back to 1891. Its core insight — technology carries its makers’ values — is exactly the right place to start.
A broadside should be delivered to the industry, not its most palatable face
The choice to present alongside Anthropic alone — defensible, probably well-intentioned — undercut the encyclical’s own insight about whose values get associated with the message.
A beginning, not an endpoint
The same month, Leo XIV approved an Interdicasterial Commission on Artificial Intelligence — a standing body with room for many voices over time. If it brings the whole industry into uncomfortable dialogue, the narrow first launch reads as a first step, not a pattern.
Impact of the Encyclical on AI Ethics and Industry
This encyclical marks a significant moral stance from the Vatican on AI, framing it as a moral issue rather than merely a technological one. The inclusion of Anthropic signals a push for greater safety standards and accountability in AI development, potentially influencing industry practices and regulatory discussions worldwide.
By emphasizing that technology reflects its creators’ characteristics, the Church challenges AI companies to consider their moral responsibilities and the societal impacts of their innovations. The encyclical’s focus on concentration of power and moral thresholds in conflict underscores the importance of ethical oversight in AI’s future.
The timing of the encyclical aligns with the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum novarum, which addressed social upheavals caused by industrialization. Like that earlier document, Leo XIV’s encyclical responds to a disruptive technological era—in this case, artificial intelligence—and calls for moral guidance to ensure technology benefits all, not just a few.
The choice to focus on AI reflects global concerns about concentration of technological power, ethical risks, and the potential for AI to change warfare and labor. The Vatican’s engagement indicates an increasing recognition of AI as a moral and social issue that requires moral authority and oversight.
“Technology is never neutral, because it takes on the characteristics of those who devise, finance, regulate, and use it.”
— Pope Leo XIV
Unclear Impact on Industry and Policy
It remains uncertain how the encyclical will influence global AI regulation or corporate practices. While it signals moral concern, concrete policy changes or industry shifts are still developing and depend on future Vatican and government actions.
Next Steps for AI Ethical Oversight and Vatican Engagement
The Vatican may continue to engage with AI developers and policymakers, advocating for standards rooted in human dignity. Industry responses, particularly from major AI firms, are expected to clarify their stance on safety and accountability in the coming months.
Further discussions and possibly new guidelines or collaborations could emerge, shaping the moral framework for AI development worldwide.
Key Questions
Why did the Vatican invite Anthropic specifically?
Anthropic is known for prioritizing safety and interpretability in AI, aligning with the Church’s emphasis on accountability and moral responsibility in technological development.
What does the encyclical say about AI and war?
The encyclical warns that AI changes the nature of conflict, making war easier and more impersonal, and states that no algorithm can make war morally acceptable. It advocates for dialogue and diplomacy over violence.
Will this encyclical affect AI regulation globally?
It is uncertain. While the document sets a moral tone and signals the Church’s stance, concrete policy impacts will depend on future actions by governments and industry leaders.
How does the encyclical relate to previous Church teachings?
It echoes the Church’s historical concern with social justice and human dignity, updating these themes for the age of artificial intelligence and technological concentration.
What are the main ethical concerns raised by the Pope?
The encyclical highlights concerns over concentration of power, the morality of AI in warfare, and the importance of ensuring AI serves the common good and respects human dignity.
Source: ThorstenMeyerAI.com
