What Pope Leo XIV’s First Encyclical Says About the Power of AI

In the encyclical 'Magnifica Humanitas,' Pope Leo XIV offers a nuanced reflection on the role of artificial intelligence in modern life. The document, released on May 25, is not merely a technological assessment, but rather an attempt to interpret the digital transformation through the lens of human dignity and the common good. The Pope places the issue of AI within the tradition of the social doctrine of the Catholic Church, drawing on the legacy of 'Rerum Novarum,' which addressed the challenges of industrial capitalism in the late 19th century.

Today, the 'res novae' revolve around digital platforms, algorithms, data, and automation systems that are reshaping power, the economy, and social relations. According to Pope Leo XIV, technology is not inherently evil; rather, it belongs to human history and creativity. However, the current situation is distinct in both scale and depth, with technologies now shaping decision-making processes, collective imagination, and social life in an increasingly pervasive way.

As the Pope notes, 'Never has humanity had so much power over itself.' The encyclical highlights the growing concentration of power exercised through opaque yet decisive systems, raising questions about the implications for human dignity, truth, work, social justice, and peace. Bishop Robert Francis Prevost, a key figure in the document's development, emphasizes the need to 'disarm' technology, not by slowing AI's development, but by preventing it from dominating human existence. The Pope argues that AI is part of a global race for the 'highest-performing algorithm' and the 'largest data center,' where competitive advantage also has geopolitical implications.

A few players concentrate digital infrastructure, data, and computing capacity, affecting information, economics, and even democracy. To 'disarm' AI, the Pope advocates for breaking the equation between technical power and the right to govern, making technology transparent and open to challenge. Ultimately, the encyclical calls for AI to be prevented from becoming an instrument of economic, political, or military domination by a select few, warning that the logic of competition must not transform a shared infrastructure into a system of control.

By addressing these issues, Pope Leo XIV aims to ensure that technology serves humanity, rather than the other way around.