Pope Leo XIV issued his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on Monday, calling for robust regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure it serves the common good rather than profit and to safeguard humanity from its impacts on work and warfare.
Pope's Stance on AI and War
The Pope denounced the 'culture of power' driving the AI race, particularly in developing sophisticated remote warfare. He stated it is impermissible to entrust irreversible, lethal decisions to AI systems and called for external regulation and robust legal frameworks.
Contention with Trump Administration
Leo's stance on AI regulation creates a point of contention with the Trump administration, which has aggressively worked to deregulate AI development. He previously drew criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump for criticising the Iran war.
Concerns Over AI Normalising War
The encyclical highlights concerns over AI accelerating the 'normalisation of war', calling for accountability in AI deployment, protection for civilians, and declaring the Catholic Church’s 'just war' theory outdated due to technological advancements.
Expert Reactions and Vatican Engagement
Experts anticipate Magnifica Humanitas will become a benchmark in the AI debate, with the Vatican engaging Silicon Valley firms like Anthropic in dialogue.
In a related anecdote, Pope Leo's bank in the US hung up on him as they thought it was a prank call.
