The Vatican released Pope Leon XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, a 130-page document addressing AI ethics, on May 25, 2026, marking the first major papal statement on the technology. The text condemns AI’s “new forms of slavery” and calls for global ethical oversight, while the pope personally presented the document alongside tech experts, including Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah.
A Call for Ethical AI Regulation
The encyclical frames AI as a force that “cannot be considered morally neutral,” urging leaders to “disarm” the technology to prevent it from “dominating the human.” Pope Leon XIV rejects the notion of a “just war” in AI development, particularly criticizing U.S. policies under Donald Trump. “The control of platforms, infrastructure, and data belongs not to states but to economic and technological giants,” he warned, citing the UN’s projection that AI could reach $4.8 trillion by 2033. The document advocates for a universal ethical code, emphasizing education to mitigate risks. “We must build the good and remain human,” the pope stated, referencing the encyclical’s call for “core responsibility” and “subsidiarity.”
<a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/fr/pape/news/2026-05/resume-encyclique-magnifica-humanitas-leon-xiv.
Historical Accountability and Apology
In a historic admission, the encyclical acknowledges the Vatican’s past role in legitimizing slavery. Paragraph 176 of Magnifica Humanitas states, “We cannot deny or minimize the delay with which the Church and society condemned the plague of slavery.” The pope explicitly apologized, saying, “In the name of the Church, I sincerely ask forgiveness.” This marks the first time a pope has directly addressed the Church’s historical complicity in human trafficking, drawing parallels to modern AI’s “new forms of slavery” tied to resource extraction for tech infrastructure.
<a href="https://www.la-croix.
Collaboration with AI Ethics Advocates
The pope’s personal involvement in presenting the encyclical included collaboration with Christopher Olah, co-founder of Anthropic, the company behind the AI assistant Claude. Olah, a vocal critic of AI militarization, has opposed projects like military drone autonomy and mass surveillance. The Vatican’s partnership with Anthropic reflects a broader effort to align AI development with ethical frameworks. “The choice of Anthropic expresses opposition to Trump’s ‘just war’ narrative,” the encyclical noted, referencing the pope’s critique of the former U.S. president’s AI-generated propaganda. A March 2026 meeting between Vatican officials and Anthropic executives further solidified this alliance, aiming to “spiritually orient” AI systems like Claude.
<a href="https://www.radiofrance.
Global Implications and Criticisms
The encyclical’s release coincides with growing UN concerns about AI’s “dangerous regulatory vacuum.” While the document refrains from naming specific governments or corporations, it criticizes the concentration of AI power among “a limited number of actors.” Analysts note its potential influence akin to Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’, which reshaped global climate discourse. However, some scholars question the Vatican’s authority to regulate AI, arguing that “moral suasion alone cannot address technical and geopolitical complexities.” The encyclical’s emphasis on “human dignity” may yet spark debates over its practical implementation, particularly as AI’s economic and military applications accelerate.