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TL;DR
Pope Leo XIV issued an encyclical warning that technology, especially AI, is never neutral and must serve the common good. The Vatican’s choice to include Anthropic highlights concerns over safety and accountability in AI development.
Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica humanitas, explicitly states that technology, including artificial intelligence, is never neutral but reflects the characteristics of its creators and users. The document, presented personally at the Vatican, underscores the moral responsibilities of those shaping AI and highlights concerns about concentration of power and ethical risks.
The encyclical, signed on May 15, 2024, coincides with the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum novarum and frames AI as a technological revolution comparable to the Industrial Revolution. It warns that AI’s capacity to concentrate power could widen social inequalities and emphasizes that technology should serve the common good, not just a few.
Significantly, Pope Leo XIV criticizes the potential for AI to facilitate impersonal warfare, arguing that no algorithm can morally justify conflict and calling for renewed dialogue and diplomacy over military force. The document advocates for shared ethical standards and accountability in AI development.
In a notable departure from tradition, the Pope invited AI experts, including Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah, to attend the presentation. Anthropic’s focus on safety and interpretability aligned with the encyclical’s themes of clarity and responsibility, making it the chosen representative in this moral dialogue.
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.
Implications of the Vatican’s Moral Stance on AI Development
This encyclical marks a pivotal moment by framing AI within a moral and ethical context, emphasizing that technology’s impact depends on human choices. The inclusion of Anthropic signals a preference for safety-conscious industry voices and underscores the importance of accountability and shared standards in AI governance. For the industry and policymakers, it signals growing moral scrutiny and the need for responsible innovation.
The timing of the encyclical, on the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum novarum, draws a parallel between the upheavals of the Industrial Revolution and today’s AI revolution. Past popes have used encyclicals to address societal shifts; Leo XIV’s focus on AI signifies its importance as a transformative force with social, ethical, and moral dimensions. The Vatican’s engagement reflects broader concerns about concentration of power, social justice, and human dignity in the digital age.
“Technology is never neutral, because it takes on the characteristics of those who devise, finance, regulate, and use it.”
— Pope Leo XIV
Unclear Impact of the Encyclical on Industry Practices
It remains uncertain how the encyclical will influence actual AI development and regulation. The extent to which industry leaders will adopt its moral standards or implement shared oversight remains to be seen. Additionally, the long-term impact of Vatican engagement on policy and corporate behavior is still developing.
Next Steps in Moral and Regulatory AI Discourse
Expect increased dialogue between religious, ethical, and industry leaders on AI governance. The Vatican may host further discussions or initiatives to promote shared standards. Industry responses, especially from major AI labs, will be closely watched to see if they align with the encyclical’s call for responsibility and accountability.
Key Questions
Why did the Vatican choose Anthropic as the industry representative?
Anthropic’s focus on safety, interpretability, and human-centered AI aligns with the encyclical’s emphasis on moral responsibility and accountability, making it a fitting voice for the Church’s concerns.
What does the encyclical say about AI and war?
The encyclical warns that AI can make conflict more impersonal and easier to justify, emphasizing that no algorithm can morally legitimize war. It advocates for dialogue and diplomacy over military force.
Will the encyclical lead to new regulations on AI?
It is uncertain whether the encyclical will directly influence policy, but it signals a moral framework that could shape future regulations and industry standards on AI ethics and responsibility.
How does the encyclical compare to previous Church teachings on technology?
Like past teachings on societal upheavals, the encyclical frames AI as a transformative force requiring moral oversight, emphasizing human dignity and social justice in the digital age.
Source: ThorstenMeyerAI.com
