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Pope Leo released his first major theological document, an encyclical titled "Magnifica Humanitas," on Monday (May 25) in Vatican City. This 230-page letter addresses artificial intelligence (AI) and human dignity. Presenting the document alongside Christopher Olah, a co-founder of the AI research company Anthropic, Pope Leo warned about the global conflicts fueled by technology like AI.
The Pope's encyclical also includes a historic apology for the Roman Catholic Church's role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, acknowledging it as a "wound in Christian memory." He cautioned against new forms of slavery emerging from the digital revolution, such as the unregulated labor used to extract rare minerals for AI chips.
Pope Leo's encyclical, as reported by the National Catholic Reporter, emphasizes the ethical challenges posed by AI. The Vatican has formed a study group to explore AI policies and applications within the Holy See. This encyclical marks a significant step in positioning the Vatican as a moral authority on AI development.
In his apology, Pope Leo recognized the Church's historical complicity in legitimizing slavery. He noted that past popes had authorized European sovereigns to enslave non-Christians. The Vatican has since repudiated the Doctrine of Discovery, which justified colonial-era land seizures.
Pope Leo's apology, as covered by Yahoo News, is seen as a move to strengthen the Church's moral credibility. Scholars like Anthea Butler have emphasized the importance of acknowledging past wrongs to address current technological challenges.
The encyclical's release coincides with the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII's "Rerum Novarum," which addressed workers' rights during the industrial revolution. Pope Leo likens the rise of AI to this transformative era, presenting it as a defining moral test of the modern age.