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TL;DR
Pope Leo XIV issued an encyclical stating that technology, especially AI, is inherently non-neutral and reflects those who create and control it. The Vatican’s choice to include Anthropic highlights concerns over safety and accountability in AI development.
Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, ‘Magnifica humanitas,’ explicitly states that technology, including artificial intelligence, is never neutral but takes on the characteristics of its creators and users. The Vatican’s decision to present this document personally, with AI experts including Anthropic’s co-founder in attendance, underscores the Church’s focus on ethical responsibility in AI development. This development signals a deliberate engagement with industry on moral issues surrounding AI, making it a significant moment for technology and ethics discourse.
The encyclical, signed on May 15, 2024, on the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum novarum, addresses the moral implications of artificial intelligence, framing it as a modern parallel to industrial upheaval. It emphasizes that AI’s impact depends on who develops and controls it, warning against concentration of power that could deepen social inequalities.
During the Vatican presentation, the Pope was joined by notable figures including Professor Anna Rowlands and Cardinal Víctor Fernández. Among the audience was Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah, whose focus on AI safety and interpretability aligns with the encyclical’s call for accountability and human dignity. The choice to include Anthropic, but not other major AI firms like OpenAI or Google DeepMind, reflects a focus on safety and responsibility.
The document criticizes AI’s role in changing work dynamics and its potential to lower moral thresholds in conflict, advocating for dialogue and diplomacy over escalation. The Pope’s stance echoes concerns about AI’s misuse in warfare and social manipulation, emphasizing that moral standards must guide technological progress.
Technology is never neutral — and neither were the empty chairs
Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical casts AI as this century’s Rerum novarum moment. He presented it personally — with Anthropic’s co-founder in the room. OpenAI, Google DeepMind & xAI were not. For a “broadside against AI companies,” that guest list is itself an argument.
A Rerum novarum for the age of AI
The signing date wasn’t incidental. Leo XIV chose the 135th anniversary of Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical — and, by taking the Leonine name, cast himself as the pope who answers AI as Leo XIII answered industry.
The same move, 135 years apart
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Five chapters, one worry: concentration
The recurring anxiety is that AI’s power lands “in the hands of only a few” — and that a more moral AI isn’t enough “if that morality is determined by a few.”
A dynamic doctrine, faithful to the Gospel
Situating AI in the Church’s social teaching — the living tradition from Rerum novarum onward.
Foundations & principles
Human dignity that is “neither acquired nor earned”; the common good; the universal destination of goods — tech must not be held by a few.
Technology & dominance
The “technocratic paradigm.” AI can simulate a person but has no moral conscience or empathy. Calls to “disarm” AI from the logic of competition.
Safeguarding humanity: truth, work, freedom
The “new ways” of working aren’t always better; AI too often makes workers adapt to machines. Warns of an “architecture of visibility.”
The culture of power & the civilization of love
The hardest charge: “no algorithm can make war morally acceptable.” Argues even “just war” theory must now be overcome.
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Who was in the room — and who should have been
Leo XIV presented the encyclical personally (popes usually delegate). Among the AI experts: Anthropic’s Chris Olah. The other frontier labs? Empty chairs. Tap each seat.
The presentation · May 25, 2026
A defensible single invite — or a diluted broadside? Press play, then judge.
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A broadside delivered to one delegate
The Washington Post read the encyclical as one that “fires a broadside against AI companies.” A reckoning aimed at an industry is weakened when one member — the most safety-branded one — is present to receive it.
The encyclical’s hardest charge is about AI and war — and it implicates the labs that weren’t there.
Its most uncompromising passages condemn AI-enabled weapons and the lowering of the threshold for violence. But that lands hardest on the defense-entangled players and the leaders most explicit about military & geopolitical ambitions — not the lab that showed up.
Account vs. anoint
One sympathetic guest tilts it from “the Church holding the industry to account” toward “the Church beside its preferred firm.”
Concentration, again
A text whose deepest fear is power “determined by a few” launched by elevating one company as chosen interlocutor.
AI safety training courses
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Two things are true at once
The criticism is of the exclusivity, not the inclusion. Olah in the room was fitting; Anthropic alone was incomplete.
The most significant AI reckoning yet by a global moral institution
It grounds a critique of concentration, dehumanized work & algorithmic warfare in a tradition stretching back to 1891. Its core insight — technology carries its makers’ values — is exactly the right place to start.
A broadside should be delivered to the industry, not its most palatable face
The choice to present alongside Anthropic alone — defensible, probably well-intentioned — undercut the encyclical’s own insight about whose values get associated with the message.
A beginning, not an endpoint
The same month, Leo XIV approved an Interdicasterial Commission on Artificial Intelligence — a standing body with room for many voices over time. If it brings the whole industry into uncomfortable dialogue, the narrow first launch reads as a first step, not a pattern.
Implications of the Vatican’s Moral Stance on AI Development
This encyclical marks a rare intersection of religious authority and technological ethics, positioning the Church as a moral voice in AI governance. The inclusion of Anthropic signals a preference for safety-focused development and accountability, potentially influencing industry standards and regulatory discussions. It also highlights the importance of ethical oversight in AI, especially as concentration of power in few hands raises concerns over social justice and human dignity.
For the public and policymakers, the encyclical underscores that AI is not merely a technical issue but a moral one, requiring shared standards and global dialogue. The Vatican’s involvement may elevate ethical considerations in AI regulation, encouraging companies and governments to prioritize human-centered approaches.
Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on Technology and Morality
The Vatican’s engagement with technological upheaval dates back to Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical Rerum novarum, which addressed industrialization’s social impacts. The current document repositions AI as this century’s defining challenge, emphasizing that technological power reflects societal values and moral choices.
The presence of AI experts, especially from safety-focused labs like Anthropic, reflects ongoing debates about responsible AI development. The choice of invitees and the personal presentation by the Pope signals a deliberate attempt to shape the moral discourse around AI, contrasting with industry-driven narratives that often prioritize innovation over ethics.
While the encyclical does not provide specific regulatory proposals, it reinforces the idea that AI’s development must be guided by shared human values, echoing historical calls for social justice and human dignity amid technological change.
“Technology is never neutral, because it takes on the characteristics of those who devise, finance, regulate, and use it.”
— Pope Leo XIV
Unanswered Questions About Industry Influence and Future Policy
It remains unclear how the Vatican’s moral stance will influence actual AI regulation or industry practices. The specific impact of Anthropic’s inclusion and the absence of other major firms like OpenAI or Google DeepMind is not yet confirmed. Additionally, how this engagement will shape future collaborations or policies is still developing.
Next Steps in Moral and Regulatory AI Discourse
The Vatican is expected to continue engaging with AI developers and policymakers, potentially advocating for international standards rooted in ethical principles. Industry players may face increased pressure to prioritize safety and accountability, while further dialogues between religious authorities and tech leaders could emerge. Monitoring upcoming conferences, policy proposals, and industry shifts will clarify how the encyclical’s moral call translates into concrete action.
Key Questions
Why did the Vatican choose to present the encyclical personally?
The Vatican aimed to emphasize the importance of moral responsibility in AI by personally engaging with industry experts and religious figures, signaling a serious stance on ethical oversight.
Why was Anthropic specifically invited to the presentation?
Anthropic’s focus on AI safety, interpretability, and accountability aligns with the encyclical’s call for responsible development, making it a fitting representative of safety-conscious industry efforts.
Will this encyclical lead to new regulations or industry standards?
It is uncertain; while the encyclical raises moral concerns, concrete policy changes depend on future diplomatic and legislative developments influenced by this moral framing.
What does the encyclical say about AI and war?
The document warns that AI lowers the moral thresholds of conflict and advocates for dialogue and diplomacy over military escalation, challenging the notion that war can be morally justified through algorithms.
Source: ThorstenMeyerAI.com
