Pope Leo unveiled the Vatican’s new encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” warning that artificial intelligence risks becoming a tool of “domination, exclusion and death” unless governments and institutions place moral limits on the rapidly developing technology.
The Vatican is formally entering the global debate over artificial intelligence as governments and tech companies race to develop increasingly powerful AI systems with limited international regulation.
The pontiff invoked Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical “Rerum Novarum,” which addressed worker exploitation during the Industrial Revolution, arguing that AI represents a similarly transformative moment threatening human dignity.
“Today we find ourselves facing a transformation of similar magnitude, with perhaps even greater consequences,” the Pope said.
UN REVISITS ‘KILLER ROBOT’ REGULATIONS AS CONCERNS ABOUT AI-CONTROLLED WEAPONS GROW
The pope warned about increasingly autonomous weapons systems that are beyond meaningful human control. He also said AI systems could block access to healthcare, employment and security because of biased data. He compared AI governance to nuclear arms control.
“Like nuclear energy, it must be at the service of all and of the common good,” he said.
AI layoffs may be backfiring on companies
The pope said disarming AI alone is not enough and called on governments and institutions to “build” systems rooted in trust and human dignity. Recalling devastating floods in Peru, he said rebuilding means restoring trust and hope.
WHY A CLASSICAL EDUCATION MAY BE THE KEY TO HUMANITY’S FUTURE IN THE AI ERA
The pope also laid out the church’s broader argument about humanity and technology.
“The person bears within him- or herself a freedom, an interiority and a vocation to love and worship that no machine can replace,” he said.
The Vatican is attempting to insert moral theology into a largely secular technological arms race.
“Stay awake,” the pope urged, warning humanity not to surrender moral judgment to machines.
Pope Leo warns AI risks becoming tool of ‘domination, exclusion and death’ in new encyclical 2026 IUSTITIA.BG – Investigations 2009-2026 2026-05-25 19:15:10 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
