Pope Leo XIV to Release First Encyclical on AI 135 Years After Rerum Novarum
Updated
Updated · NBC News · May 24
Pope Leo XIV to Release First Encyclical on AI 135 Years After Rerum Novarum
4 articles · Updated · NBC News · May 24
Monday’s “Magnifica Humanitas” will be Leo XIV’s first encyclical, setting out the Vatican’s case for protecting human dignity as AI spreads through work, education and social life.
Leo signed the document on May 15—the 135th anniversary of Leo XIII’s “Rerum Novarum”—and has framed AI as a new industrial-era challenge to dignity, justice and labor.
Last week the Vatican also created an interdepartmental AI commission, underscoring that the encyclical is part of a broader push early in Leo’s papacy rather than a one-off statement.
Chris Olah of Anthropic will join the unveiling in an unusual pairing that highlights church engagement with AI firms, even as theologians and faith experts reject claims that systems could hold personhood or a soul.
The release lands amid wider backlash over AI’s environmental, social and educational effects, with Leo warning that technology can exploit human relationships and eclipse the meaning of being human.
The Pope frames AI as a new Industrial Revolution. What human rights are needed when algorithms become our colleagues and bosses?
When the Vatican collaborates with a top AI firm, can human dignity be coded, or is this simply 'ethics washing'?
Catholic doctrine denies AI a soul. What are the ethical limits for creating AI that perfectly mimics having one?
Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 Encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas" Sets Vatican’s Global Agenda for Ethical AI
Overview
On May 25, 2026, Pope Leo XIV personally unveiled his landmark encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, marking a pivotal moment in the global conversation on artificial intelligence. The Vatican’s deep commitment to this message highlights its ambition to be a leading moral authority on AI development and use. Building on Pope Leo XIV’s earlier teachings, the encyclical addresses the ethical challenges of AI, emphasizing the need to safeguard human dignity and ensure technology serves humanity. This release signals the Holy See’s proactive role in shaping the future of AI with a strong moral framework and global influence.