By: Isuru Parakrama
May 26, World (LNW): Pope Leo XIV has issued a sweeping appeal for tighter international oversight of artificial intelligence, cautioning that unchecked technological development could deepen global instability, fuel misinformation and push humanity towards a future shaped by permanent conflict.
In his first major encyclical, titled Magnifica Humanitas (“Magnificent Humanity”), the pontiff urged world leaders to slow the rapid expansion of AI technologies and establish firm ethical and legal safeguards before systems evolve beyond meaningful human control.
The nearly 43,000-word document, regarded as one of the most significant statements of his papacy so far, addresses a broad range of issues linked to artificial intelligence, warfare, labour exploitation and global political responsibility.
The pope warned that advanced AI systems are increasingly being designed and deployed in ways that prioritise competition, profit and military advantage over human dignity and social wellbeing.
Speaking at a Vatican event marking the release of the document, attended by AI researchers and technology executives including Chris Olah, the pope expressed alarm over the rise of autonomous weapons systems that he said may already be operating beyond effective human oversight.
The pontiff argued that governments must not surrender control of AI development entirely to private corporations, insisting that stronger democratic accountability and independent regulation are urgently required.
He also called for international cooperation to prevent an uncontrolled technological arms race between major AI firms and powerful nations.
Among the key concerns raised were the spread of disinformation, threats to employment, exploitation of vulnerable workers and the growing exposure of children to harmful digital environments. Pope Leo stressed that political leaders must become more actively involved rather than allowing technological progress to accelerate without restraint.
The encyclical also linked modern technological systems to wider global injustices. The pope condemned what he described as “new forms of slavery”, referring to exploitative labour conditions associated with the extraction of rare earth minerals and the manufacturing of electronic devices used to power AI systems.
He highlighted the suffering of workers and children in poorer regions involved in hazardous mining operations supplying the global technology industry.
Beyond AI, the pope delivered a forceful critique of modern warfare and the global arms trade, warning that geopolitical tensions and commercial interests are increasingly driving nations towards conflict. He argued that the traditional “just war” doctrine — historically used within Christian teaching to justify armed conflict under certain conditions — no longer reflects the realities of modern warfare.
The remarks are likely to attract international attention, particularly following recent disagreements between the Vatican and political leaders over ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Pope Leo suggested that some governments may even use military confrontations to divert public attention from domestic political and economic difficulties.
In a notable passage, the pope also acknowledged the Catholic Church’s historical failures regarding slavery and formally asked forgiveness for the Church’s delayed condemnation of the transatlantic slave trade.
Concluding the document, Pope Leo urged humanity not to surrender to hopelessness in the face of rapidly advancing technology and global instability. Drawing on the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, he warned against pursuing scientific and political power without moral responsibility, calling instead for nations and institutions to work collectively towards the common good.
