Pope Leo XIV's Encyclical Targets AI Power Concentration
Pope Leo XIV published his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on May 25, 2026, focusing on safeguarding humanity amid AI but primarily addressing older issues like inequality, war, and power concentration. The 200-page document was presented alongside Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah. Leo argues that technology governed by a small elite cannot serve the common good, warning that AI amplifies existing power imbalances. He calls for clear oversight and an end to the AI arms race for geopolitical dominance. The encyclical follows President Trump's delayed AI executive order, reportedly influenced by David Sacks. Leo draws parallels to Pope Leo XIII's 1891 Rerum Novarum and cites Elon Musk's Twitter acquisition as a modern example. Paolo Carozza of Notre Dame Law School and the Meta Oversight Board notes AI's erosion of truth and democratic politics.
Key facts
- Pope Leo XIV published encyclical Magnifica Humanitas on May 25, 2026.
- Encyclical titled 'safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence'.
- Document presented alongside Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah.
- Leo argues technology built by a small elite cannot serve common good.
- Calls for end to AI arms race for more powerful algorithms and larger datasets.
- President Trump delayed AI executive order, reportedly on urging of David Sacks.
- References Pope Leo XIII's 1891 Rerum Novarum on industrial power concentration.
- Paolo Carozza (Notre Dame Law, Meta Oversight Board) cited on AI misinformation.
Entities
Institutions
- Anthropic
- Notre Dame Law School
- Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences
- Meta Oversight Board
- TechCrunch
Locations
- Vatican City