“The Magnificent Humanity Created by God” — such is the title and opening phrase of the first encyclical of our beloved Pope, Pope Leo XIV, signed on May 15, 2026. Its subtitle clearly states its fundamental purpose: “On the Safeguarding of the Human Person in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” Indeed, our postmodern era has witnessed tremendous advances in new technologies that have transformed, and in some cases disrupted, many aspects of daily life. As Leo XIV clearly states: “This paradigm has rapidly expanded in recent years, particularly through the spread of artificial intelligence, cognitive sciences, nanotechnology, robotics, and biotechnology” (MH no. 93). This encyclical is a masterclass that enlightens, challenges, and calls us to reflection and action so that humanity does not surrender itself to the machine to its own detriment. Pope Leo XIV’s reflection on these contemporary issues is so rich and illuminating that it would require two articles to do it justice. We therefore encourage everyone to appropriate it personally by reading it themselves.
A Social Encyclical at the Beginning of a Pontificate
Generally speaking, an encyclical is a pastoral letter through which the Pope, Shepherd of the Universal Church, addresses Christ’s faithful in order to strengthen them in the faith. Consequently, encyclicals ordinarily deal with questions of faith and Christian doctrine. Yet because the Church’s teaching mission is universal, every social issue is also a matter of the Church’s concern and prayer. In this sense, a Pope may write a social encyclical focused on concerns arising from ordinary life, particularly social issues. The Gospel message is addressed to men and women confronted by social realities that affect their lives of faith. The Church is therefore not indifferent to our human existence in society. By proposing a reflection on contemporary technologies and their profound impact on human life, Pope Leo XIV places himself within the centuries-old tradition of his predecessors beginning with Pope Leo XIII. At the dawn of the Industrial Revolution in the nineteenth century, Leo XIII, recognized as the founder of the Church’s Social Doctrine, took to heart “the workers’ question,” defending laborers and encouraging them to organize in defense of their rights. His successors have followed the same path, drawing from the Gospel to uphold and defend the common good: “Today, the Social Doctrine of the Church is a treasury of wisdom in which we find principles for reflection, criteria for discernment and judgment, and concrete orientations for action. It is founded upon Sacred Scripture and Tradition” (MH no. 3).
Through these teachings emerged the principles of Catholic Social Doctrine, promoting justice and human dignity for the well-being of all. It is in the light of this teaching that Pope Leo XIV addresses the new revolution of our age—the revolution of artificial intelligence—whose consequences may prove as profound as those of nineteenth-century industrial mechanization. He cannot remain indifferent or silent. This explains his choice to issue a social encyclical at the very beginning of his pontificate.
A Balanced Vision of Technological Progress
Reading Magnifica Humanitas, one is struck by the depth of the Pope’s analysis, which commands admiration for both its openness of mind and its understanding of contemporary realities.
The encyclical acknowledges the immense possibilities offered by artificial intelligence in fields such as medicine, education, scientific research, and the fight against poverty: “Over the centuries, technological development has significantly improved the living conditions of humanity” (MH no. 4). The Pope therefore rejects attitudes of fear or systematic rejection, while at the same time refusing to conceal the genuine risks facing humanity. The Church welcomes authentic progress whenever it contributes to the integral development of the human person. Yet beyond this positive outlook, Leo XIV strongly warns against several major dangers: “At the same time, every stage of progress has also revealed the ambiguous face of tools capable of causing harm when they are not placed at the service of the good.”
First, there is the impact on the world of work. Just as the Industrial Revolution profoundly altered the lives of workers, artificial intelligence today threatens to replace many jobs or reduce workers to mere executors dependent upon automated systems. The Pope reminds us that work is not simply a means of earning a living; it is also a place of dignity, creativity, and participation in God’s work.
Second, there is the concentration of power. A small number of major technology companies already control a considerable share of data, digital infrastructures, and computational capacity. This concentration risks increasing inequalities and subjecting societies to private interests capable of influencing the economy, politics, and even culture.
Third, there is the risk of manipulating truth. Systems capable of generating images, videos, and texts make it increasingly difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood. In such a context, disinformation can weaken democracy, social trust, and the search for truth. The Pope emphasizes that truth is not merely a technical matter but a fundamental moral requirement for life in society.
Finally, Leo XIV expresses deep concern over the development of autonomous weapons. He maintains that decisions involving life and death must never be delegated to algorithms. Human beings must always remain responsible for their actions.
The Human Person at the Heart of Magnifica Humanitas
Starting from the principle that human dignity derives from humanity’s creation in the image of God, the Pope places the human person at the center of his reflection. Nothing and no one can prevail over the value of the human being. This principle lies at the heart of the encyclical: “For this reason, the human person always remains ‘the way of the Church’ and the heart of every authentic path toward integral human development” (MH no. 50).
Magnifica Humanitas is therefore not primarily a document about technology. Its central theme is the human person created in God’s image. The Pope insists that the fundamental question is not what machines can do, but what human beings are called to become.Technological progress is an expression of human genius and can contribute to the common good. However, when detached from moral reference points, it risks becoming an instrument of domination and dehumanization.
Leo XIV recalls that every age has faced the temptation to reduce human beings to a single dimension: workforce, consumer, citizen, or statistical data. Today, the danger lies in viewing human beings merely as collections of information and predictable algorithms. Such a vision overlooks freedom, conscience, creativity, and the capacity to love that characterize the human person.
The Pope therefore insists upon the sacred and inalienable dignity of every human being. No machine, however sophisticated, can replace the unique value of each person. Technology must remain at the service of humanity, never the reverse: “Development is human when it places persons at the center rather than the accumulation of goods, and when it concerns peoples and not only individuals” (MH no. 83).
Click here to read the Pope’s encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas.
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