Vatican Outlines Views On Artificial Intelligence Ahead Of Papal Encyclical

The Vatican is preparing for the release of Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, a major doctrinal document expected to set out the Catholic Church’s ethical framework on artificial intelligence, with a strong emphasis on human dignity, social relationships and global peace.According to Vatican officials, Pope Leo XIV signed the encyclical on Friday, marking a symbolic date that falls 135 years after Pope Leo XIII signed his landmark 1891 encyclical “Rerum Novarum.”

That earlier document addressed workers’ rights, the limits of industrial capitalism, and the responsibilities of governments and employers during the Industrial Revolution, laying the foundation for modern Catholic social teaching.The new encyclical is expected to draw a parallel between the Industrial Revolution and today’s rapid advances in artificial intelligence, framing AI as a transformative force that raises similarly profound ethical and social questions.

Church officials indicate that the document will integrate AI into the broader tradition of Catholic social doctrine, which covers labor, justice, peace, and the protection of human dignity in changing economic systems.Pope Leo XIV has already signalled the importance he places on the issue. Shortly after his election in 2025, he told the College of Cardinals that the Church has a responsibility to offer the “treasury of her social teaching” to help guide global responses to AI.

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His remarks underscored concerns that technological development must not come at the expense of human rights, labour protections, or social cohesion.Experts in ethics and theology say the Vatican is positioning itself as a key moral voice in the global AI debate. Meghan Sullivan, a philosophy professor at the University of Notre Dame who directs its ethics institute, noted that the Church is likely to play a significant role in shaping discussions around responsible AI governance, particularly in relation to human dignity and fairness.

She suggested that the pope’s intervention could help frame AI not just as a technical issue, but as a deeply human one affecting society at large.The forthcoming encyclical is expected to formally articulate these concerns, placing artificial intelligence within the Church’s long-standing tradition of engaging with major economic and technological shifts. Observers say it may become a reference point for policymakers, technologists, and religious leaders seeking ethical guidance on the development and deployment of AI systems worldwide.

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