Pope Leo has issued a stern warning about AI development in his first encyclical since becoming pontiff, criticizing the technology's use in warfare and calling for robust regulation. The US-born Pope specifically condemned AI deployment in US military operations in Iran, stating it is not permissible to entrust lethal decisions to artificial systems. He warned of a technological revolution driven by "the idolatry of profit," suggesting corporate interests are overriding ethical considerations.

The Vatican has been engaging with Silicon Valley companies on AI ethics for over a decade, but the Pope now demands stronger controls. He criticized entrepreneurs like Peter Thiel and Elon Musk for promoting visions that deem some people "less useful," while warning that opaque algorithms controlled by powerful private companies threaten "new forms of dehumanisation." This stance creates uncertainty for AI developers already navigating regulatory landscapes globally.

Pope Leo's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas calls for "transparency and accountability" in all AI tools used in public life, particularly affecting sectors like finance, education, and hiring. The Pope warned that AI's ability to feign empathy could reduce genuine human connections, potentially disrupting social and economic structures. This moral framework from the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church significantly impacts how businesses develop and deploy AI technologies, especially in sensitive applications.