Pope Leo XIV's 'Magnifica Humanitas' calls for global AI ethics, avoids AGI risks

Pope Leo XIV's long-awaited encyclical, 'Magnifica Humanitas' ('Magnificent Humanity'), marks the Catholic Church's most substantial engagement with artificial intelligence to date. Addressed to all people of good will, the document balances appreciation for AI's potential benefits with forceful moral critiques of those who would use it to exploit or dehumanize. The Pope emphasizes that AI is not inherently neutral but takes on the character of its designers, funders, and regulators. Surprisingly, the encyclical focuses almost entirely on current AI applications and near-term risks, such as unemployment and erosion of human dignity, while omitting any explicit discussion of artificial general intelligence (AGI), catastrophic risk, or radical longevity—topics that were raised in the Church's previous AI document, 'Antiqua et Nova' (January 2025). This absence suggests the encyclical is intended as the beginning of a conversation rather than a definitive final word on AI ethics.

The document's practical orientation calls for worldwide engagement and discernment, urging policymakers, technologists, and citizens to shape AI toward human flourishing. While Pope Leo does not envision a scenario of truly transformative economic displacement, he expresses serious concern about job losses and the concentration of power. The encyclical invites respectful critique and future development, particularly as AI systems advance beyond current capabilities. Observers note that a follow-up document addressing AGI and existential risks will likely be needed soon, ideally before such technologies emerge. For now, 'Magnifica Humanitas' provides a moral framework rooted in human dignity, but leaves the hardest questions for future Church teaching.