Pope Unveils Encyclical on AI Ethics and Human Dignity Protection

Pope Leo XIV has published the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, addressing the ethical aspects of artificial intelligence development. Released on May 25, the document draws a parallel with the 1889 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which established moral foundations for the Industrial Revolution—but only decades after its onset, when negative consequences had already become irreversible.

Modern leaders in the AI industry, including DeepMind founder Demis Hassabis and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, compare the current technological shift to the Industrial Revolution, but ten times larger and faster. According to their estimates, AI systems will surpass human capabilities in most areas within the coming years. Yet, decisions about their development and deployment principles are made by a narrow group of specialists, without considering the broader public’s input.

The Vatican has launched the Faith-AI Covenant project, uniting representatives from tech companies (Anthropic, OpenAI) and religious leaders. The goal is to develop ethical frameworks for AI before its architecture becomes irreversible. Participants note that religious institutions possess a unique resource: the trust of billions of people, for whom the key question is not AI’s technical capabilities but its fairness and societal impact.

The encyclical is addressed to governments, investors, and tech corporations, reminding them of the need to consider the interests of 1.5 billion Catholics, for whom the protection of human dignity is non-negotiable. The authors emphasize: unlike the Industrial Revolution, moral principles for AI are being formed before the technology becomes an integral part of life.