What the Pope Said About A.I.
Pope Leo XIV's encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas," emphasizes the importance of moral considerations in artificial intelligence development. He expresses concern that tech leaders are neglecting the value of humanity in their pursuit of innovation. The encyclical serves as a counter-narrative to the tech industry's self-proclaimed mission of saving the world through disruptive innovation.
- ▪Pope Leo XIV called for moral discernment in AI development in his encyclical.
- ▪The encyclical critiques the tech industry's approach to innovation and its impact on humanity.
- ▪It was signed on May 15th, coinciding with the anniversary of Pope Leo XIII's significant encyclical, "Rerum Novarum."
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
The LedeWhat the Pope Said About A.I.Leo XIV’s new encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” presents a remarkable case for placing moral concerns, and not profit, or competitive advantage, or efficiency, at the center of any discussion of artificial intelligence.By Jill LeporeMay 27, 2026Photograph by Yara Nardi / ReutersSave this storySave this storySave this storySave this storyLast year, only months into his papacy, Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, called on developers of artificial intelligence “to cultivate moral discernment as a fundamental part of their work.” In response, the Silicon Valley billionaire and troll-in-chief Marc Andreessen began mocking the pontiff by tweeting an idiotic meme at him.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The New Yorker.
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