Pope Leo XIV issued a sweeping warning Monday about the growing power of artificial intelligence, cautioning that governments and societies must act carefully before rapidly advancing technology reshapes human life in ways that may be impossible to reverse.
In his first encyclical, titled “Magnifica Humanitas,” the first U.S.-born pope called on policymakers around the world to establish stronger safeguards and ethical standards governing AI before the technology becomes too deeply embedded in society.
The pontiff argued that leaders must confront the spread of artificial intelligence with “clarity to establish adequate regulatory tools capable of upholding justice and curbing the distorting effects of technological power.”
The document marks the clearest statement yet from Leo on a subject he has repeatedly raised since ascending to the papacy following the death of Pope Francis last May. Throughout his early tenure, the pope has expressed concern over the impact artificial intelligence could have on workers, children and broader human dignity as governments and corporations race to expand the technology.
In his first address to cardinals after becoming pope, Leo warned that AI presents “new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor.”
The encyclical also drew direct inspiration from Pope Leo XIII, whom the current pope called his “beloved predecessor.” The Vatican is commemorating the 135th anniversary of “Rerum Novarum,” the landmark 1891 encyclical that defended workers’ rights during the upheaval of the Industrial Revolution.
Much like the industrial transformation of that era, Leo suggested today’s technological revolution carries enormous promise but also profound risks if left unchecked.
“Technology should not be considered, in itself, as a force antagonistic to humanity,” the pope wrote. But he stressed that societies must ensure emerging tools remain “oriented toward the good.”
He added that AI is developing so rapidly that even experts struggle to fully understand where the technology may lead.
“New technologies open up a horizon extending in directions that are imaginable but not yet fully predictable,” Leo wrote. “This complicates the assessment of their potential impact and the long-term effects they may have on both the dignity of individuals and the common good.”
Rather than embracing an unrestricted technological arms race, the pope argued for caution, ethical debate and political involvement capable of slowing development when necessary.
“Calling for prudence, rigorous evaluation and even, at times, a slower pace in adopting AI does not mean opposing progress,” Leo wrote. “Instead, it is an exercise of responsible care for the human family.”
He also warned against allowing a small number of powerful institutions or corporations to dominate how AI is developed and applied.
“What is needed is a more active political involvement that is capable of slowing things down when everything is accelerating,” the pope added, “and of protecting the opportunities for communities still to be able to participate and ask questions.”
Among those attending the Vatican launch of the manifesto was Christopher Olah, co-founder of Anthropic, which is currently engaged in litigation with the Trump administration after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth designated the company a supply chain risk and President Donald Trump ordered civilian agencies to stop using its products.
Those actions followed demands from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei that the federal government refrain from using the company’s Claude chatbot for fully autonomous lethal weapons or mass surveillance of Americans.
The administration has recently taken a more aggressive stance toward expanding U.S. AI development as competition with China intensifies. Lawmakers from both parties have voiced concern about the dangers posed by AI, though many in Washington argue American companies must keep pace with Chinese rivals.
Meanwhile, progressive lawmakers including Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have pushed for stronger restrictions, including legislation introduced in March that would halt construction of new data centers until federal safeguards are implemented.
Speaking at the Vatican event, Olah praised the pope’s willingness to confront the issue directly.
“We need more of the world — religious communities, civil society, scholars, governments — to do what His Holiness has done here,” Olah said, according to The Associated Press. “To take this seriously, to look closely, and to push events in a better direction.”
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