Pope Leo sets Catholics on collision course with AI

"Catholic and European outlets are reporting that Leo is poised to sign the AI encyclical on the anniversary of Rerum Novarum (1891), Pope Leo XIII's foundational industrial-era labor encyclical. The encyclical will focus specifically on AI's impact on "people and working conditions," framing it as Leo XIV's effort to modernize Catholic social teaching for the AI era, per the French newspaper Le Monde. Other reports suggest Magnifica Humanitas will argue technology must remain subordinate to the human person - not the reverse - and that AI systems should protect workers, creativity and moral agency."

"The Vatican has not commented, but it has implemented formal AI guidelines and monitoring structures inside Vatican City. Zoom in: The late Pope Francis warned repeatedly that AI risked reducing humans to data points and accelerating inequality, surveillance and autonomous warfare. The Holy See also backed the "Rome Call for AI Ethics," an initiative urging transparency and human-centered AI development."

"Context: Encyclicals are among the most important documents a pope issues - used to set priorities and define how the Catholic Church responds to major global challenges. They often act as blueprints for a papacy, signaling what issues will take center stage for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. Zoom out: The Vatican has stepped up cybersecurity partnerships and AI oversight efforts, blending defense with diplomacy and ethics."

"In February, Leo told priests not to use AI to write homilies or to seek "likes" on social media platforms like TikTok. What they're saying: " This is exactly the fear ... that machines were replacing human labor. And that's exactly what we're seeing right now with AI," said Andrew Chesnut, chair of Catholic studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, tells Axios. Chesnut said Leo is treating AI less like a tech trend and more like a replay of the industrial revolution, with entry-level workers alr"

Catholic and European outlets report that Leo will sign an AI encyclical on the anniversary of Rerum Novarum, focusing on AI’s impact on people and working conditions. The encyclical is described as an effort to modernize Catholic social teaching for the AI era, arguing that technology must remain subordinate to the human person rather than replacing human agency. Reports also say it will call for AI systems that protect workers, creativity, and moral agency. The Vatican has not commented publicly, but it has implemented formal AI guidelines and monitoring structures. The Holy See has supported initiatives promoting transparency and human-centered AI development, while warning that AI can reduce humans to data points and intensify inequality, surveillance, and autonomous warfare.

Read at Axios