Pope Leo XIV Issues Encyclical on AI, Drawing Parallels to Industrial Revolution

Jul 10, 2026

Pope Leo XIV has released an encyclical titled 'Magnifica Humanitas' focused on safeguarding the human person in the era of artificial intelligence. The document addresses ethical challenges posed by AI, including issues of interpretability in large language models, and draws parallels to the Church's response to the industrial revolution. The Pope chose his name in honor of Leo XIII, who addressed similar societal shifts in his 1891 encyclical Rerum novarum.

Why it matters: This encyclical marks a significant institutional statement from the Vatican on the ethical implications of AI, framing it as a transformative force akin to the industrial revolution.

Full story at: Simon Willison's Weblog ↗