Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on May 25, condemning unchecked AI growth. The 83‑page document frames AI as a new industrial revolution and calls for “disarming” the technology—removing it from military and profit‑driven uses and placing it under tighter state and international oversight. Leo warns AI could deepen inequality and erode democratic norms. He urges immediate global collaboration.

Leo targets Big Tech, arguing that a handful of wealthy firms amplify economic power, shape public opinion, and steer policy to their advantage. He cites the risk of AI cementing “new forms of slavery” through data monopolies and rare‑earth extraction. Co‑founder of Anthropic, Chris Olah, joined the Vatican event, echoing the call for broader civil‑society participation in AI governance. They demand transparent algorithms.

The encyclical insists human dignity must outrank algorithmic efficiency, urging education on AI ethics and tax reforms that shift burdens toward affluent tech owners. Leo stresses that moral safeguards belong in design phases, not as after‑thought fixes. By framing AI as a societal tool rather than a sovereign force, the Vatican seeks to reshape policy debates worldwide. The pope hopes churches will lead.