On May 25, the Vatican issued Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, entirely dedicated to artificial intelligence. The document, titled *Magnifica Humanitas*, classifies data, algorithms, and digital platforms as “common goods” and calls for stricter regulation of major technology companies.
Data is considered a common resource.
The document states that data derives from the collective participation of numerous individuals and groups, and should not be monopolized long-term by a few corporations, nor should it be treated simply as a private asset for sale. The encyclical also emphasizes that technology is not morally neutral; algorithms embed the values, blind spots, and incentive structures of their designers, funders, and deployers.
Regarding platform governance, the document does not limit itself to top-down regulation. The Vatican proposes promoting algorithmic transparency, independent community audits, and granting individuals practical legal rights to challenge automated systems, particularly in areas such as credit scoring, job screening, and judicial risk assessment.
Oppose leaving sensitive decisions entirely to machines
The encyclical points out that AI systems lack bodily experience and cannot feel pain, joy, or compassion, and therefore cannot develop true human understanding. They can simulate empathetic expressions and generate seemingly plausible language, but this does not equate to genuinely comprehending the output.
Based on this judgment, the document opposes entrusting automated systems with sensitive decisions such as hiring, credit eligibility, and court risk scoring. The Vatican believes that while machine-generated results may appear objective, they still reflect pre-programmed choices and biases introduced by developers.
Anthropic executives attend the launch event
At the Vatican’s press event that day, Christopher Olah, co-founder of Anthropic and head of interpretability research, appeared alongside two cardinals and theological scholars. He stated that large AI labs operate under a set of incentives and constraints that sometimes conflict with “doing the right thing,” making external oversight from governments, religious institutions, and civil society essential.
He also noted that if AI causes large-scale job displacement in the short term, addressing this issue will become a morally significant historical challenge. The encyclical offers an even stronger statement: if control over data and computing power remains concentrated in the hands of a few, merely pursuing “more ethical AI” is not enough.
The Vatican has initiated an internal coordination mechanism.
This encyclical consists of 245 paragraphs and was signed on May 15, the 135th anniversary of the publication of Rerum Novarum, a key text in Catholic social teaching on the rights of labor.
Prior to this, Pope Leo XIV had repeatedly identified AI as a key ethical issue during his papacy. On May 16, the Vatican also approved the establishment of a new internal AI committee, involving seven departments, tasked with coordinating the Holy See’s subsequent AI governance efforts.