Magnifica humanitas

Magnifica humanitas (lit. 'magnificent humanity') is the first encyclical of Pope Leo XIV, concerned with "preserving the human person in the age of artificial intelligence". It was published on 25 May 2026.

Magnifica humanitas Latin for 'Magnificent Humanity' Encyclical of Pope Leo XIV
Signature date	15 May 2026 (2026-05-15)
Subject	On safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence
Number	1 of 1 of the pontificate
Text	In English

Leo XIV chose to present the encyclical personally at the Vatican, unlike most other popes who delegated this task to cardinals. The presentation was attended by AI experts, including Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah.

The encyclical was the first to be published without an official Latin version first, following a recent change to Vatican regulations.

Background and release

Magnifica humanitas was published on the 135th anniversary of the encyclical Rerum novarum by Pope Leo XIII (pictured).

Since the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV expressed concerns regarding the rise of artificial intelligence, the crises of human dignity, and multilateralism. The date of the encyclical's publication was selected to fall on the 135th anniversary of the publication of Rerum novarum, the landmark encyclical regarding industrialisation written by Leo XIV's namesake Pope Leo XIII.

At the beginning of May 2026, the Pope approved an Interdicasterial Commission on Artificial Intelligence which would be made up of representatives from seven departments of the Roman Curia: the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Dicastery for Culture and Education, the Dicastery for Communication, the Pontifical Academy for Life, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. The commission would "facilitate collaboration and the exchange of information among group members regarding activities and projects related to Artificial Intelligence, including policies on its use within the Holy See, while promoting dialogue, communion, and participation".

Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah was invited to speak at the Vatican's presentation of the encyclical on 25 May 2026. Olah praised the Vatican's role as "informed critics" and the beginning of a "long collaboration between those of us who are building this and those who can see what we, from inside, cannot". The other experts speaking at the presentation alongside Leo XIV were Professor Anna Rowlands, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Cardinal Michael Czerny, and Professor Léocadie Lushombo.

Contents

The encyclical is concerned with "preserving the human person in the age of artificial intelligence". Leo states that the technology could make civilization "less human" and reduce human dignity, as well as the value of human work, which he argues is inherent to finding purpose and fulfillment. The encyclical particularly condemns the use of AI in warfare, stating that reduced human control of weaponry makes it easier to begin wars. Leo writes that consequently, Catholic just war theory ("which has all too often been used to justify any kind of war"), has become "outdated". The encyclical also discourages an AI arms race and criticizes deepfakes in politics. Magnifica Humanitas asserts that technology is never neutral, arguing that humanity faces a choice between "constructing Babel and rebuilding Jerusalem": between remote, prideful power and human-centered community.

The encyclical also offers apologies for the Catholic Church's role in slavery, noting the formal and absolute condemnation of slavery in the 19th century articulated by his namesake Pope Leo XIII in In plurimis. In the notes, Leo XIV further states:

Political and, at times, even economic needs overcame the demands of the Gospel. The need for evangelization was frequently compromised or at least misunderstood with regard to the needs of worldly powers, thus relativizing the problematic incompatibility of slavery with the Christian conscience.

Works cited

Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Book V) was quoted in the section "We can all do our part":

The twentieth-century Catholic author J. R. R. Tolkien, in the words of a protagonist in one of his novels, described our responsibility in this way: "It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till."

Besides quoting and citing prior popes, Leo XIV also constantly refers to works related to the social doctrine of the Church and the Second Vatican Council. The encyclical also cites the United Nations Charter's stated determination to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" in the face of the increasing conflicts of the present era.

Other works cited include:

• Confessiones, De Civitate Dei and Sermons by Saint Augustine of Hippo;
• Discours de l'état et des grandeurs de Jésus, Discours IV, Unité de Dieu en l’incarnation by Pierre de Bérulle;
• The End of the Modern World by Romano Guardini;
• Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl;
• The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt;
• Riflessioni sul Concilio by Giorgio La Pira;
• Commentaries on Boethius's De Trinitate by Saint Thomas Aquinas.

Production

The encyclical was first published in Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish. As of 5 May 2026, no official Latin text has been published.

The presentation of the encyclical was broadcasted by Vatican News from New Synod Hall with American Sign Language interpretation. The presentation included speeches from:

• Cardinals Víctor Manuel Fernández, Michael Czerny, and Pietro Parolin;
• theologians Anna Rowlands and Léocadie Lushombo; and
• technologist Chris Olah.

Vatican News also released one-on-one interviews with Rowlands, Lushombo, and Cardinal Czerny about the encyclical.

Vatican Radio released audiobook versions of the encyclical in English, German, and Polish languages.

The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development released a video in tandem with the encyclical, and gathered them in a playlist. The Dicastery also published a "pastoral proposal" intended to help individuals, groups, and communities to understand the encyclical. It includes excerpts from the encyclical, questions for personal and community reflection, suggestions for a practical, experiential approach, relevant biblical texts, and prayers.

Reception

Media

Secular media discussed the encyclical as part of the Holy See's soft power to shape public opinion. Margherita Stancati and Sam Schechner of The Wall Street Journal described the encyclical as "a text that is poised to define Leo's papacy", saying that it had been "long-awaited" as a useful moral teaching for policymakers and faith groups. David Streitfeld, writing for The New York Times, analyzed the text as representing the contrast between traditional religions and a growing tendency in Silicon Valley to speak of artificial intelligence in quasi-religious tones. Krysta Fauria from Associated Press wrote that the public's "enthusiasm" for the encyclical "is driven in part by a perception, especially among young people, that few political or global leaders grasp or take seriously the known and potential ramifications of AI's rapid rise." Magnifica Humanitas was described by BBC as "a stark and direct message to those in positions of power about their responsibilities in curbing the 'threats' it poses".

In Christian media, a variety of responses followed the encyclical's release. John Grosso of Where Peter Is interpreted much of the text (particularly the included quote from The Lord of the Rings) as a direct criticism of Peter Thiel. Grosso drew attention to the contrast between the views espoused by the Catholic Church, Tolkien, and Tolkien's characters and the transhumanist, techno-feudalist, and authoritarian political positions of Thiel. Sally Scholz, writing in the National Catholic Reporter, praised the document's focus on solidarity, saying that it "beautifully synthesizes the tradition". Ned Desmond, writing for the religious journal First Things, called the encyclical a "missed opportunity" and described the use of Nehemiah as an analogy as a "blind spot". Luma Simms, writing for the Catholic magazine Providence, critiqued the encyclical for not referencing the prior encyclical Humanae vitae, which deals with human sexuality. Simms also speculated that the prior encyclical could lose relevance in Catholic social thought in the future. Matthew Walther, a Catholic writer and AI critic, called it "disappointingly measured and cautious".

Public

The encyclical caught the attention of the wider public and quickly went viral. On social media, the document sparked praise and memes. Comparisons were drawn with Frank Herbert's Dune and its concept of Butlerian jihad. Young people especially (both Catholics and non-Catholics) appeared to gravitate towards Leo's arguments for the essentiality of humanity. In an Associated Press article, 27-year-old Isabel Thurston stated that, "people have really been looking for a response to AI...This was the first — at least in my sphere of the world — world leader to make an announcement of this magnitude."

Some in the public claimed that AI was used in preparing the encyclical. In a lengthy analysis on Substack, researcher Linch Zhang speculated that certain paragraphs of the encyclical may have been written by Claude due to the repetition of certain words and grammar structures. Later, Zhang stated that it was highly unlikely the pope himself had been involved in those paragraphs, and the cardinals and curial staff who had assisted in the work may have used AI. This opinion received some backlash in the general public. Matteo Wong, writing for The Atlantic, stated that AI detection tools often produced false positives. Even a 1-in-10,000 rate would occur many times when applied to millions of cases, he argued, and thus people should be cautious about making accusations based on these tools. In addition, there are reports that state Leo wrote the first draft of the encyclical using pen and paper.

Online, discussion spiked on whether the encyclical would increase demands for accommodations for those objecting to artificial intelligence on religious grounds. Canadian attorney Christopher Achkar told Global News that laws such as the Canadian Human Rights Act and Human Rights Code of Ontario may provide some protections against adverse treatment for religious objectors to artificial intelligence. USA Today spoke with James Paul, a labor and employment litigator, who stated that he expects AI-related religious accommodation cases to "mushroom." The article cites Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Technology industry

Cade Metz from the The New York Times stated that "response to the encyclical from across Silicon Valley was fairly muted." He interviewed technologist Jeremy Nixon, who dismissed Leo's words and stated that the Holy See "couldn't have a position on [AI] because they don't understand it". Nixon told Metz that many scientists in the AI field are influenced by the new atheism of Richard Dawkins, and that compared to God, "AI as an alternative... was more real and far more powerful." Nixon also compared the arrival of artificial general intelligence to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Other responses from those in the technology world varied. Venture capitalist David Sacks stated that the Pope "rightly warns that AI must serve human dignity" but believed that regulations on AI could be "used to censor, surveil, and control citizens — as Orwell foretold in 1984." Jack Dorsey reshared Leo's post that "we must also include new forms of property, such as patents, algorithms, digital platforms, technological infrastructure and data" and added the comment "yes". Blake Scholl of Boom Technology expressed disapproval, stating, "Bad take from the Pope. Tech revolutions tend to eliminate some jobs while creating others. If we cling onto jobs, we'd still be plowing fields by hand out of fear of disruption."

Governments

Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum quoted the encyclical and called on Mexicans to discuss it in their communities, regardless of their personal faith.

US Vice President JD Vance spoke about the encyclical in a commencement speech to the U.S. Air Force Academy. In it, he stated that graduates should "use technology to make you better, but never submit to it." He agreed with Leo's admonition "not to outsource the most important decisions to digital technology."

Colombian president Gustavo Petro shared a link to the encyclical via his X account and detailed his own apprehensions about artificial intelligence.

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez met with Pope Leo XIV the day the encyclical was released, and expressed his agreement with the Pope's view that "no technology is neutral, and therefore Artificial Intelligence is not neutral either".

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Pope Leo XIV had a telephone conversation shortly after the encyclical's release. Readouts about the call spoke of the two sides' mutual interest in responsible use of artificial intelligence.

At a European Commission press briefing, the commission's spokesperson for tech sovereignty, defence, space, and research matters said, "We do need a proper, robust framework of rules when it comes to AI", and pointed to the European Union's legal frameworks laid out in the Artificial Intelligence Act, Digital Services Act, and Digital Markets Act.

On 5 June 2026, the House of Lords in the United Kingdom held a debate "Artificial Intelligence: Impact on Human Relationships and Society" in which multiple cited the importance of the encyclical. This included the Lords Spiritual lead by Archbishop of Canterbury, senior bishop and primate of the Church of England, as well as Lords Temporal affiliated with the three largest parties Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats.

Academia

Several Catholic universities provided analysis from their faculty, including University of Navarra, Georgetown University, Fordham University, University of Notre Dame.

Academics from a range of disciplines in non-Catholic universities also provided responses, including Dr. Samuel Tranter of theology, ethics, and public life from Christ Church; assistant professor Jacob J. Erickson of theology, ecology, and ethics at Trinity College Dublin; Thomas Anton Kochan of human resources and management studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; cybersecurity policy scholar David A. Hoffman of Duke University; and Jan Burzlaff of the Jewish Studies Program at Cornell University.

Non-Catholic religious figures

Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally of the Church of England and Lord Spiritual, delivered a speech making common cause with Pope Leo XIV's concerns in a debate "Artificial Intelligence: Impact on Human Relationships and Society" held in the House of Lords.

Wave after wave of technological innovation is taking place as we speak. The question we should be asking is simple: where are we going? What is our vision for how this technology will serve human flourishing? We are in danger of unleashing AI into our lives and societies without the theological, philosophical and spiritual framework with which to make decisions about creating, controlling, using or directing it.

Above all, we need to ensure that AI is being designed, built, regulated and used to serve our glorious humanity and not to diminish it—to be pro-human. As Pope Leo has said, “humanity—in all its grandeur and woundedness—must never be replaced or surpassed”.

This poses the question: does AI make human life more human? The question matters for those designing, developing and building the technology as they think about what ideologies and belief systems should underpin the models, for there is no such thing as value-neutral technology.

Writing for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America's publication Orthodox Observer, the protopresbyter Nicolas Kazarian wrote that "the document's intended audience clearly extends far beyond the Roman Catholic Church. Its ecumenical dimension is explicit and compelling."

Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, a Lutheran and moderator of the central committee of the ecumenical World Council of Churches, said that "we have been discussing [A.I.] intensely in the last years within the World Council of Churches … I am very grateful that Pope Leo is now giving a strong impulse to this discussion with his new encyclical."

Jay Kranda, a pastor of the non-denominational Christian Saddleback Church known for use of new technologies, disagreed with Pope Leo XIV's critique. In an interview with Christianity Today, "I just don't want us so 'doomer' about the machines that we downplay how central humanity is to God's plan. My take is AI has way more ability to enhance our world than end it. But it is a tool. And you and I have to wield it wisely."

Rabbi Mark Dratch, a longtime participant in Orthodox Jewish interfaith dialogue with the Vatican, wrote in an editorial for the The Times of Israel that "Pope Leo warns against what he calls the 'complete delegation of important and sensitive decision-making' to systems that have never seen a human face... the warning deserves Jewish endorsement and Jewish amplification." David Zvi Kalman of the Shalom Hartman Institute who studies Jewish responses to emergent technologies, agreed with much of the encyclical, but found he had "a hard time seeing Jerusalem as an abstraction" and noted how prohibitions of classes of people from the Temple complicate the story of Nehemiah's reconstruction.

See also

• Catholic Church and artificial intelligence
• Ethics of artificial intelligence
• Human–AI interaction
• Timeline of artificial intelligence
• Artificial intelligence controversies

External links

• Full text of Magnifica humanitas in English
• Full audiobook of Magnifica humanitas in English