Pope Leo XIV delays AI encyclical

Pope Leo XIV has pushed the publication of his first encyclical to the end of May, according to Vatican-linked reporting that says the document is being prepared around artificial intelligence, international peace and international law. The Vatican has not yet posted the encyclical on the pope’s official documents pages, but Leo has repeatedly framed artificial intelligence as a central issue for his pontificate in speeches and messages over the past year. The delay surfaced as Leo kept up a full public schedule in Rome. In the past several days, he addressed students at Sapienza University, exchanged messages with Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II and the Vatican’s doctrine office issued a warning to the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X, or SSPX, over planned episcopal ordinations without papal approval. (vatican.va) Those strands — technology, war, ecumenical ties and church discipline — are not presented by the Vatican as one package. But they have all appeared in official Vatican communications this week as Leo approaches what would be the first encyclical of his pontificate. ### Why is artificial intelligence expected to be at the center of the encyclical? (vaticannews.va) Leo has been signaling that focus since the start of his pontificate. In his first formal address to the College of Cardinals in May 2025, he said the church must respond to “a new industrial revolution and to the development of artificial intelligence,” Vatican News reported. (vaticannews.va) On January’s message for the 2026 World Day of Social Communications, Leo said technology must serve the human person and highlighted the need to protect human dignity in an age shaped by AI, according to Vatican News. On June 17, 2025, he also sent a message to a Rome conference on artificial intelligence, ethics and corporate governance, warning that generative AI raises questions for children, labor and human dignity. (vaticannews.va) At Sapienza on May 14, Leo linked peace and technology directly. Vatican News said he warned about rising military spending and “the dangers of artificial intelligence in war” while urging students to become “artisans of true peace.” ### What did Leo do with the Gaza students in Rome? Seventy-two students from Gaza arrived in Rome this week to continue their studies under a humanitarian and educational initiative involving Sapienza University, the Diocese of Rome and the Community of Sant’Egidio, Vatican News reported. (vaticannews.va) Four of them are enrolled at Sapienza itself for the 2025-2026 academic year. (vaticannews.va) On May 14, Leo praised the agreement creating a university humanitarian corridor from Gaza during his visit to Sapienza. Vatican News said the program provides scholarships, accommodation and integration support for young Palestinians affected by the war. The Diocese of Rome will host students in university residences until March 2029, with possible extension for thesis completion, while Sant’Egidio will provide language and culture courses. (vaticannews.va) ### What happened with the Coptic patriarch? Leo spoke with Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II for the Day of Coptic-Catholic Friendship, Vatican News reported on May 15. A Holy See Press Office statement said the exchange focused on giving “new impetus” to the annual observance and overcoming obstacles to dialogue “based on faith and charity.” (vaticannews.va) The same Vatican account said both sides recognized a shared responsibility to proclaim the Gospel and promote peace and reconciliation, “especially in the greatly troubled Middle East.” Leo also sent Tawadros a letter for the occasion, continuing an observance begun under Pope Francis in 2013. ### What warning did the Vatican give the SSPX? (vaticannews.va) Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, said on May 13 that the episcopal ordinations announced by the SSPX “do not have the requisite papal mandate.” The Vatican statement said such an act would constitute “a schismatic act” and that formal adherence to schism entails excommunication under church law. (vaticannews.va) The statement did not announce that excommunications had already been imposed. It said Pope Leo was praying that those responsible for the SSPX would reconsider what Fernández called an “extremely grave decision.” ### What comes next from the Vatican? The Vatican’s official Leo XIV documents pages had not posted the encyclical as of May 16. (vatican.va) Vatican calendar pages already list Leo’s next major public milestones, including the close of the Marian month on May 31 and a trip to Spain scheduled for June 6-12. If the encyclical appears by the end of May, it would land just before that overseas visit. (vatican.va)