Pope Leo warns AI risks becoming tool of 'domination, exclusion and death' in new encyclical 25.05.2026

Pope Leo has issued a new encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas," formally entering the global debate on artificial intelligence and warning of its potential to become a tool of "domination, exclusion and death" if moral limits are not established. He drew parallels to Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical, "Rerum Novarum," highlighting AI as a similarly transformative force threatening human dignity. The pontiff expressed concerns about autonomous weapons lacking meaningful human control and AI systems perpetuating exclusion through biased data in areas like healthcare and employment. He advocated for AI governance akin to nuclear arms control, emphasizing its development for the common good, and urged institutions to build AI systems rooted in trust and human dignity, cautioning against surrendering moral judgment to machines.












