Pope Leo XIV calls for a brake on AI

Pope Leo XIV calls on governments to slow down the development of AI systems and regulate them more strictly. He does so in his first major encyclical, *Magnifica Humanitas*, which was published on May 25, 2026.

According to Reuters, the Pope warns that AI can spread disinformation, exacerbate conflicts, and push the world toward a permanent culture of war. He is particularly concerned about autonomous weapons systems, which he believes have become almost beyond human reach to control effectively.

Leo XIV advocates for strong legal frameworks, independent oversight, well-informed users, and political accountability. He also wants ownership of AI data not to rest solely with private companies. Additionally, he asks policymakers to better protect workers' rights and children from the consequences of AI.

Notably, Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah was present at the Vatican event surrounding the text. According to Reuters, Olah acknowledged that frontier AI labs are under commercial pressure and require external oversight.

The Pope connects AI to broader social and moral themes. He refers to the Industrial Revolution and to Pope Leo XIII, who wrote about labor rights in 1891. Leo XIV now speaks of new forms of exploitation surrounding AI, including people supporting AI systems and workers in the technology production chain.

For AI users, companies, and policymakers, this is important because the Vatican explicitly frames AI as a societal and ethical issue. The discussion is not only about innovation or productivity, but also about war, labor, data ownership, surveillance, and human dignity.