Pope Leo XIV calls to disarm AI

Why it matters

Pope Leo XIV used his first encyclical to press one of the broadest moral cases yet from a major religious leader for restraining artificial intelligence. The document, “Magnifica Humanitas,” was presented at the Vatican on May 25 and is dated May 15, the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s “Rerum Novarum,” according to the Holy See Press Office. It is framed as a teaching text on “safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence,” not as a legal proposal from a regulator. In a Vatican address the same day, Leo said the technology “needs to be disarmed,” using language that immediately drew attention beyond church circles. ### What exactly did Leo publish, and when? The Vatican said “Magnifica Humanitas” is Leo XIV’s first encyclical, a form of papal teaching letter addressed to the church and, often, to a wider public. The text was signed on May 15, 2026, and formally presented on May 25 in the New Synod Hall, according to the Holy See Press Office. The official title describes the document as being “on safeguarding the human person in the time of Artificial Intelligence.” Time reported the encyclical runs about 42,300 words, while Religion News Service, as carried by MSN, described it as an 83-page text. (press.vatican.va) ### What did he mean by saying AI should be “disarmed”? Leo used the phrase himself in his May 25 Vatican remarks. “Artificial intelligence needs to be disarmed,” he said, adding that he chose the word deliberately to “attract attention” and “awaken consciences.” He linked that appeal to concerns about algorithms affecting access to healthcare, employment and security, and to the risk of new forms of exclusion. (press.vatican.va) (time.com) The encyclical’s published table of contents shows a chapter section on “Weapons and artificial intelligence,” alongside sections on work, democracy, communication, dependencies, societal control and “the normalization of war.” That structure indicates the text treats military use as one part of a wider argument about human dignity, labor, power and political order. (vatican.va) ### Is this a call to ban AI, or to slow and regulate it? Time reported that Leo’s document argues for regulation, limits and human oversight rather than a blanket halt to development. The article described the encyclical as opposing an aggressive deregulatory approach and calling for technology to serve humanity rather than concentrated power. The Vatican’s own summary of the text supports that reading. (vatican.va) In the published encyclical, Leo addresses AI developers directly and says “every design choice reflects a vision of humanity,” placing ethical responsibility on those building the systems rather than ordering an end to research. ### Why is the church tying this to “Rerum Novarum”? May 15, 2026, was chosen because it marked 135 years since Leo XIII issued “Rerum Novarum,” the 1891 encyclical associated with the church’s response to industrial-era labor upheaval, the Vatican said. (time.com) National Catholic Reporter reported before publication that church historians and commentators were already drawing parallels between the Industrial Revolution and AI-driven disruption. (vatican.va) That historical framing matters because it places AI inside a longer Catholic tradition of intervening when technology and markets reorder work and social life. NCR said Leo’s text ranges beyond software itself to war, inequality, democracy, slavery and the devaluing of human capacities. ### Who is reacting, and what happens next? (press.vatican.va) National Catholic Reporter said Catholic leaders were still digesting the encyclical on May 27 and that it would take time to “fully unpack” its arguments. One contributor quoted by NCR said Leo was offering “a clear, comprehensive, and coherent voice” on building a world where technology serves human beings. (ncronline.org) The Vatican’s rollout itself signaled that the next phase will involve more than church officials. NCR reported before the release that the presentation would include Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah, and the Vatican has already published the encyclical text, the presentation materials and Leo’s May 25 address for further study. (ncronline.org 1) (ncronline.org 2)

Key numbers

• Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” on May 25, 2026, calling for artificial intelligence to be “disarmed” and regulated.
• In a Vatican address on May 25, Leo said “artificial intelligence needs to be disarmed,” framing the document as an ethical intervention.
• Catholic leaders said further debate will continue as bishops, theologians and developers study the 83-page text and Vatican presentation materials.
• The document, “Magnifica Humanitas,” was presented at the Vatican on May 25 and is dated May 15, the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s “Rerum Novarum,” according to the Holy See Press Office.

What happens next

• The document, “Magnifica Humanitas,” was presented at the Vatican on May 25 and is dated May 15, the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s “Rerum Novarum,” according to the Holy See Press Office.
• The text was signed on May 15, 2026, and formally presented on May 25 in the New Synod Hall, according to the Holy See Press Office.
• Leo used the phrase himself in his May 25 Vatican remarks.

Sources

• press.vatican.va
• press.vatican.va
• time.com
• vatican.va
• vatican.va
• press.vatican.va
• ncronline.org
• ncronline.org 1
• ncronline.org 2

Quick answers