FAITH MATTERS:
Faith and artificial intelligence: Pope Leo takes on the challenge of AI
June 13, 2026
By Bishop Gerard Bergie
Contributing Columist
Pope Leo has recently issued his first Encyclical Letter entitled “Magnifica Humanitas.”
Translating as “Magnificent Humanity,” it focuses on safeguarding of the human person in the time of artificial intelligence. It applies the Catholic social teaching principles to the challenges of AI as it relates to education, politics, work and war.
This is a timely document as concern is growing regarding this new technology, even among some of its developers. It is interesting to note that Christopher Olah, co-founder of Anthropic, a significant AI company, was present at the Vatican presentation of this Encyclical and spoke alongside the Pope on technology’s role in society.
There is no question there are ethical implications regarding artificial intelligence as it can dramatically affect the human person and the good of society. Pope Leo understands this reality and felt a need to address its implications, both the good and bad.
Right at the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Leo stated, “In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another Industrial Revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that poses new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.” (Vatican News, May 14, 2025)
The Pope made this statement in the context of sharing his rational for choosing the name Leo XIV. He chose the name to honour his predecessor Pope Leo XIII who lived in the last quarter of the 19th century. At that time, society was experiencing profound change due to the Industrial Revolution.
The papal Encyclical “Rerum Novarum” (1891) addressed the rights and duties of business and labour, stressing the importance of respecting human dignity.
Pope Leo XIV’s Encyclical was signed on May 15, 2026, the 135th anniversary of the publication of his predecessor’s Encyclical.
In “Magnifica Humanitas,” Pope Leo uses two biblical images to illustrate the proper use of technology in a digital world. He speaks about building the Tower of Babel and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. He speaks about the “Babel syndrome,” which is the idolatry of profit that sacrifices the weak and forces uniformity under the pretense of a single language (even a digital one) that can be dehumanizing by translating the person into simple data or performance.
It also involves a rejection of God.
Pope Leo contrasts this with the “way of Nehemiah” who helped rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. We see people who worked together for the common good in a spirit of prayer and co-operation.
Pope Leo states, “The risk of dehumanization — of building a future that excludes God and reduces the other to a means — is an ancient and ever new temptation that today takes on a technical guise. Instead, let us choose the ‘way of Nehemiah,’ which highlights the importance of working together to make the City of God a safe place for returning exiles.” (MH 10)
In his encyclical, Pope Leo also acknowledges that artificial intelligence is not equivalent to human intelligence. It does not feel joy or pain or mature through relationships. It does not know love, work or friendship. There is no moral conscience nor an ability to judge good and evil.
One of the more striking differences can be found in handling failure. Pope Leo writes, “For an algorithm, an error is a flaw to be corrected; for a person, however, an error can be a catalyst for profound change.” (MH 128)
A constant theme throughout “Magnifica Humanitas” is that artificial intelligence is not neutral, and it requires moral vigilance, critical reflection and shared responsibility.
Pope Leo reminds us that technology, properly used, can help us to cultivate a civilization of love if it is rooted in human dignity rather than profit and control.