First Encyclical of Pope Leo XIV Emphasises Humanity in the AI Era
The Vatican has released Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, titled ‘Magnifica Humanitas’, which addresses the protection of humanity in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).
An encyclical is an official letter from the Pope to bishops and all Catholics worldwide, containing teachings on faith, morality, social issues, and current affairs, serving as pastoral guidance for the Catholic Church.
According to the Vatican Press Office, Pope Leo XIV signed this crucial document for the global Catholic Church on the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical ‘Rerum Novarum’, which dealt with labour and social issues of its time.
“The human race, created by God in all His majesty, now faces a critical choice: whether to build a new Tower of Babel or a city where God and humanity coexist,” the document states in its opening.
The encyclical comprises five chapters, along with an introduction and conclusion. A key explanation is that technology is not inherently opposed to humanity nor evil by nature. However, it is not neutral, as it reflects the human qualities of its creators, contributors, regulators, and users.
The Pope also calls for goodness and upholding human dignity through principles of bold shared responsibility, subsidiarity, and communion.
“Thus, the world will once again recognise that the human heart is where God wishes to dwell,” wrote Pope Leo XIV.
In the first chapter, Pope Leo XIV discusses the development of the Catholic Church’s social teachings, citing Pope Leo XIII’s ‘Rerum Novarum’ as a historical milestone.
For over a century, popes have interpreted historical changes through the lens of the Gospel, emphasising human dignity, the value of work, solidarity, subsidiarity, and efforts to achieve peace and brotherhood, according to Pope Leo XIV.
Special attention is given to human dignity as the foundation of the Church’s social teaching. Pope Leo XIV warns that under the influence of new ideologies and powerful interests, humans risk being reduced to mere resources for exploitation or valued solely based on achievements and productivity. However, he stresses that each person’s dignity is inherent and requires no justification.
“Those aspects of dignity can be enhanced or diminished. Beyond that, there is a deeper, more essential ontological dignity. This is the dignity inherent in every human being simply by virtue of existence, because they are willed, created, and loved by God,” the encyclical states.
In the ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ document, Pope Leo XIV also addresses the military use of AI.
“No algorithm can make war morally acceptable,” he said.