Pope Leo Denounces Power Culture Behind AI Surge
Pope Leo has criticized the “culture of power” fueling the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing the need for the technology to be governed by the “most rigorous” ethical standards as it increasingly permeates areas from employment to warfare.
In his encyclical—the first major document of his papacy focused on protecting humanity—he also issued an apology for the Catholic Church’s prolonged hesitation in condemning slavery, calling it “a wound in Christian memory.” He further addressed “new forms of slavery” emerging from the digital economy.
Departing from tradition, Leo personally presented the encyclical on Monday at a Vatican event shortly after his election in May last year, when he identified AI as the greatest threat facing humanity. Among attendees was Christopher Olah, co-founder of Anthropic, a US-based AI company currently involved in disputes with the Trump administration over AI ethics.
Significance of the Encyclical
Encyclicals represent one of the highest forms of papal teaching directed at the Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion members, typically outlining the pope’s priorities and addressing major societal issues.
Titled Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity), the document reflects on a “troubling revival of war as an instrument of international politics” and notes AI’s role in facilitating the “normalisation of war.”
“For this reason, the development and use of AI in warfare must be subject to the most rigorous ethical constraints, to guarantee respect for human dignity and the sanctity of life and to avoid a race to develop such arms,”
Leo urged the “disarming” of AI, warning that some autonomous weapons systems are “practically beyond any human reach” to control.
“Disarming AI means freeing it from the mentality of ’armed’ competition,”
“To disarm does not mean rejecting technology, but preventing it from dominating humanity,”
He added that AI should be “human-friendly,” accessible to all, and open to discussion and debate.
Concerns Over Concentrated Digital Power
Addressing concerns seemingly directed at Silicon Valley, the pope cautioned that control over digital systems, infrastructure, and data “does not rest with states but with major economic and technological actors.” He warned that when such power is concentrated “in the hands of the few,” it tends to “become opaque and evade public oversight, increasing the risk of distorted forms of development that give rise to new dependencies, exclusions, manipulations and inequalities.”
Expert Perspectives on AI and Ethics
Christopher Olah emphasized on Monday that AI development cannot be left solely to technology companies and called for increased oversight from religious leaders, governments, and civil society.
“There is a real possibility that AI would displace human labour at very large scale,”
“If that happens, supporting those displaced will be a moral imperative of historic proportions,”
Olah noted that companies operate within a framework of incentives and constraints—including commercial, geopolitical, and personal pressures—that can sometimes conflict with “doing the right thing” for society, making external scrutiny essential.
Church’s Apology on Slavery
Leo, whose family history includes both enslaved people and enslavers, reflected on slavery:
“It is impossible not to feel deep sorrow when contemplating the immense suffering and humiliation endured by so many in stark contrast to their immeasurable dignity as persons infinitely loved by the Lord … For this, in the name of the church, I sincerely ask for pardon.”
While previous popes have apologized for Christians’ involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, none had publicly acknowledged or apologized for the role popes themselves played in authorizing European sovereigns to subjugate and enslave “infidels.”
Additional Participants and Theological Insights
Alongside two cardinals, theologians Anna Rowlands and Léocadie Lushombo were present at the encyclical’s presentation.
Rowlands, professor of Catholic social thought at Durham University, said the encyclical “brings the vision of the Gospel to bear on the cultures of AI,” warning of a growing culture of power reshaping work, family, education, and political life.
Vatican Engagement with AI Industry
The Vatican has engaged seriously with AI issues for several years, including holding regular dialogues with major technology firms such as Microsoft and Google.
The pope expressed the Church’s desire to collaborate with AI developers to discuss the appropriate use of the technology.
Christopher White, author of Pope Leo XIV: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy and senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, commented:
“What Leo has done in this document is put the full weight of his office behind the Catholic church’s efforts to be in dialogue with big tech,”
“He’s clearly approaching AI from a position of humility and making it clear that the church doesn’t have all of the answers when it comes to what sort of policies are necessary for AI regulation. But he is being clear-eyed that AI development can’t simply be the wild west like some of its advocates would like to see.”
Reactions from Catholic Aid Charity
Christine Allen, CEO and director of the Catholic aid charity Cafod, responded to the encyclical by highlighting the pope’s emphasis on human dignity.
“We are not simply instruments of production but living beings, entrusted with a moral compass,”
“In a world full of imbalances, we have a duty to use AI responsibly. Today’s message is that it should not be used to further exacerbate inequality and suffering.”
