Pope Leo XIV says it is ‘not permissible’ to use AI in certain ways

Pope Leo XIV has issued a sweeping mandate for the future of artificial intelligence, calling for rigorous oversight and a fundamental shift in how developers approach the rapidly evolving technology. In his first encyclical, titled Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity), the U.S.-born pontiff underscored his stance that AI represents the most significant challenge to modern society, ranging from the workplace to the battlefield.

A Call for Ethics Over Profit

The Pope’s manifesto directly challenges the current trajectory of the AI industry, which he claims is fueled by a destructive “culture of power.” Addressing a Vatican presentation on the document, Leo XIV argued that artificial intelligence must be “disarmed” and shielded from logic that prioritizes profit, domination, and exclusion over the well-being of humanity.

The document also features a historic apology for the role of the church in slavery, drawing a direct line between that historical injustice and modern practices of exploitation.

Red Lines on AI and Warfare

A major flash point in the encyclical is the Pope’s firm position against autonomous lethal weapons. Leo XIV declared it “not permissible” for AI systems to have the authority to make irreversible life-or-death decisions. This stance sets the stage for a potential clash with the Trump administration, which has prioritized the aggressive deregulation of the AI sector.

Beyond domestic policy, the Pope criticized the normalization of war through technology, noting how AI has desensitized the public to the human cost of conflict. He further noted that the traditional Catholic “just war” theory is now considered outdated due to the complexities of modern technological warfare.

Industry Impact and Future Outlook

The encyclical is already being viewed as a defining benchmark for policymakers, researchers, and tech industry leaders. Taylor Black, a Microsoft AI executive and director of the AI institute at The Catholic University of America, believes the document will force those at the forefront of development to confront deep philosophical questions regarding the nature of humanity.

While tech giants like OpenAI and Anthropic continue to move toward near-trillion dollar valuations, some leaders within the industry are welcoming the scrutiny. Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah praised the Pope’s intervention, emphasizing the need for “moral voices” to guide a technology that threatens to displace human labor on a massive scale.

Paolo Carozza, a law professor at Notre Dame and chair of the Meta Oversight Board, lauded the document as a prophetic guide for the digital age, stating that the Pope is urging the world to construct a future where technology is designed to serve people rather than degrade them.