Pope Leo XIV's Encyclical Warns Against AI Moral Risks

Pope Leo XIV released an encyclical titled "Magnifica Humanita," addressing the ethical concerns surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for humanity. The 43,000-word document, aimed at the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, draws parallels to Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical "Rerum Novarum," which dealt with the dehumanization of workers during the industrial revolution.

Pope Leo XIV explicitly challenges the belief among tech leaders in Silicon Valley that they possess divine-like powers through AI development. He emphasizes that AI, despite its computational speed, lacks human qualities such as emotion and moral understanding.

The encyclical also acknowledges the Catholic Church's historical role in slavery, apologizing for past complicity and linking it to the need for moral accountability in the face of emerging technologies. Furthermore, Pope Leo XIV critiques the traditional just war theory, asserting that it no longer adequately justifies modern conflicts, particularly in light of the consequences for civilian populations, directly rebuking the Trump administration's use of this doctrine to justify military actions.