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TL;DR
Pope Leo XIV issued an encyclical emphasizing that technology, especially AI, is never neutral and reflects its creators’ values. The Vatican chose to include Anthropic’s co-founder at the presentation, signaling a focus on safety and accountability in AI development.
Pope Leo XIV has released his first encyclical, ‘Magnifica humanitas,’ which explicitly states that artificial intelligence is never neutral but takes on the characteristics of its creators and financiers. The Pope’s personal presentation at the Vatican included AI experts, notably Anthropic’s co-founder, marking a rare direct engagement with the tech industry on moral issues related to AI. This development underscores the Vatican’s focus on ethical AI and the responsibilities of those who build it.
The encyclical, signed on May 15, 2024, coincides with the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum novarum, framing AI as a societal upheaval comparable to the Industrial Revolution. It emphasizes that technology should serve the common good and warns against power concentration, which risks widening social divides. The document explicitly criticizes the moral implications of AI in warfare, arguing that no algorithm can justify war and calling for dialogue over conflict.
At the Vatican presentation, Pope Leo XIV chose to personally deliver the message and included a select group of speakers, among them Professor Anna Rowlands and Cardinal Víctor Fernández. Notably, Anthropic’s co-founder Chris Olah was present in the audience, reflecting the Vatican’s interest in safety-oriented AI research. The encyclical links moral accountability with the development of AI, advocating for shared standards and independent oversight to prevent technology from becoming an unaccountable power.
Technology is never neutral — and neither were the empty chairs
Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical casts AI as this century’s Rerum novarum moment. He presented it personally — with Anthropic’s co-founder in the room. OpenAI, Google DeepMind & xAI were not. For a “broadside against AI companies,” that guest list is itself an argument.
A Rerum novarum for the age of AI
The signing date wasn’t incidental. Leo XIV chose the 135th anniversary of Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical — and, by taking the Leonine name, cast himself as the pope who answers AI as Leo XIII answered industry.
The same move, 135 years apart
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Five chapters, one worry: concentration
The recurring anxiety is that AI’s power lands “in the hands of only a few” — and that a more moral AI isn’t enough “if that morality is determined by a few.”
A dynamic doctrine, faithful to the Gospel
Situating AI in the Church’s social teaching — the living tradition from Rerum novarum onward.
Foundations & principles
Human dignity that is “neither acquired nor earned”; the common good; the universal destination of goods — tech must not be held by a few.
Technology & dominance
The “technocratic paradigm.” AI can simulate a person but has no moral conscience or empathy. Calls to “disarm” AI from the logic of competition.
Safeguarding humanity: truth, work, freedom
The “new ways” of working aren’t always better; AI too often makes workers adapt to machines. Warns of an “architecture of visibility.”
The culture of power & the civilization of love
The hardest charge: “no algorithm can make war morally acceptable.” Argues even “just war” theory must now be overcome.
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Who was in the room — and who should have been
Leo XIV presented the encyclical personally (popes usually delegate). Among the AI experts: Anthropic’s Chris Olah. The other frontier labs? Empty chairs. Tap each seat.
The presentation · May 25, 2026
A defensible single invite — or a diluted broadside? Press play, then judge.
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A broadside delivered to one delegate
The Washington Post read the encyclical as one that “fires a broadside against AI companies.” A reckoning aimed at an industry is weakened when one member — the most safety-branded one — is present to receive it.
The encyclical’s hardest charge is about AI and war — and it implicates the labs that weren’t there.
Its most uncompromising passages condemn AI-enabled weapons and the lowering of the threshold for violence. But that lands hardest on the defense-entangled players and the leaders most explicit about military & geopolitical ambitions — not the lab that showed up.
Account vs. anoint
One sympathetic guest tilts it from “the Church holding the industry to account” toward “the Church beside its preferred firm.”
Concentration, again
A text whose deepest fear is power “determined by a few” launched by elevating one company as chosen interlocutor.
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Two things are true at once
The criticism is of the exclusivity, not the inclusion. Olah in the room was fitting; Anthropic alone was incomplete.
The most significant AI reckoning yet by a global moral institution
It grounds a critique of concentration, dehumanized work & algorithmic warfare in a tradition stretching back to 1891. Its core insight — technology carries its makers’ values — is exactly the right place to start.
A broadside should be delivered to the industry, not its most palatable face
The choice to present alongside Anthropic alone — defensible, probably well-intentioned — undercut the encyclical’s own insight about whose values get associated with the message.
A beginning, not an endpoint
The same month, Leo XIV approved an Interdicasterial Commission on Artificial Intelligence — a standing body with room for many voices over time. If it brings the whole industry into uncomfortable dialogue, the narrow first launch reads as a first step, not a pattern.
Implications of the Vatican’s Moral Stance on AI Development
This encyclical signals a significant moral stance from the Vatican, positioning AI as a societal and ethical issue rather than merely a technological one. By emphasizing the importance of responsible development and including a safety-focused AI lab like Anthropic, the Church is advocating for greater accountability in the industry. The focus on AI’s moral risks and the choice of representatives highlight a push for industry-wide standards that prioritize human dignity and social justice.
Historical and Contemporary Backdrop of the Vatican’s Tech Engagement
The Vatican’s engagement with technological issues dates back to Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical, Rerum novarum, which addressed societal upheavals caused by the Industrial Revolution. The current focus on AI reflects ongoing concerns about power concentration, social inequality, and moral responsibility in the digital age. Recent years have seen increased moral debate over AI’s role in warfare, labor, and privacy, with the Vatican positioning itself as a moral authority calling for ethical standards and accountability.
“Technology is never neutral, because it takes on the characteristics of those who devise, finance, regulate, and use it.”
— Pope Leo XIV
Unclear Scope of the Vatican’s Future Engagement with Industry
It remains unclear whether the Vatican’s focus on AI ethics will translate into concrete policy initiatives, industry regulations, or ongoing dialogue with tech companies beyond this initial presentation. The extent of the Church’s influence on global AI governance is still developing, and how industry leaders will respond remains uncertain.
Next Steps in Vatican’s Ethical AI Advocacy
The Vatican is expected to continue engaging with AI developers, possibly issuing further guidelines or convening industry forums to promote ethical standards. Monitoring how tech companies respond—particularly those involved in safety and interpretability—will be key to assessing the impact of the encyclical. The Church may also expand its moral dialogue to include policymakers and international organizations.
Key Questions
Why did Pope Leo XIV focus on AI in his first encyclical?
The Pope sees AI as a societal upheaval comparable to the Industrial Revolution, posing moral and social challenges that require ethical guidance rooted in human dignity.
What was the significance of including Anthropic at the Vatican event?
Anthropic’s focus on AI safety and interpretability aligns with the encyclical’s emphasis on accountability and moral responsibility, making it a natural representative for the industry’s ethical concerns.
Will the Vatican’s stance influence AI regulation globally?
It is uncertain. While the encyclical sets a moral tone, concrete policy changes depend on broader international and governmental responses, which are still evolving.
Does the encyclical criticize specific tech companies?
The document broadly warns against the concentration of power and moral risks associated with AI, but it does not single out individual companies beyond noting the importance of shared standards and accountability.
Source: ThorstenMeyerAI.com
