Pope Leo XIV warns AI could lead to job losses

Pope Leo XIV warned that the development of artificial intelligence (AI) could jeopardise human jobs if the technology is used solely to pursue corporate profits. The warning was issued by Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican’s latest encyclical titled Magnifica Humanitas, released on Monday, 25 May 2026. The 42,000-word document examines AI’s impact on humanity, employment, and global social stability. In the open letter, the Pope stressed that technology should aid humanity, not replace or eliminate human roles in society. “Greater profit-seeking cannot justify decisions that systematically sacrifice jobs,” wrote Pope Leo XIV. He also warned that modern society risks “humanity’s decline” if technological advancement is not accompanied by human protection. According to Pope Leo XIV, this could create a paradox between technological progress and social regression. “This creates a paradox of material progress and anthropological decline that undermines the foundations of a just and stable social peace,” he added. He called for protections for workers affected by automation, retraining programmes, and education to help society critically engage with AI. The Vatican also highlighted AI-generated content dangers for children, including disinformation, violent material, and hypersexualised content. In the document, the Pope also urged that AI-based weaponry remain under human control. The encyclical’s launch was attended by Christopher Olah, co-founder of AI firm Anthropic.