The recent release of Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, and the subsequent financial milestones achieved by artificial intelligence company Anthropic have sparked discussion about whether the Vatican’s engagement with the firm provided it with a form of moral legitimacy ahead of its anticipated public market debut. The debate emerged after Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah participated in the Vatican event where the document was presented, only days before the company announced a major funding round and confidentially filed for a US initial public offering.

The encyclical, whose title translates to “Magnificent Humanity,” focuses extensively on the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence. In the document, Pope Leo XIV warns against the unchecked expansion of AI technologies and calls for safeguards to ensure that technological progress remains aligned with human dignity and ethical principles. The text draws comparisons with Pope Leo XIII’s landmark 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed the social consequences of the Industrial Revolution and championed the rights of workers.

Rather than endorsing artificial intelligence companies, the Vatican used the document to highlight concerns about concentration of power, surveillance, exclusion and the potential misuse of advanced technologies. The launch event attracted attention because representatives from the AI industry, including Anthropic, were present during discussions of a document that directly critiques some of the risks associated with the sector. Scholars and observers described the encyclical as one of the most significant religious interventions in the global debate over artificial intelligence.

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Anthropic’s presence at the event was notable because the company has spent much of its existence positioning itself as a safety-focused AI developer. Founded in 2021, the company is known for its Claude family of AI models and its emphasis on constitutional AI, a framework designed to align artificial intelligence systems with defined ethical principles. The company has frequently argued that advanced AI development should be accompanied by robust safeguards and governance mechanisms.

In the days following the Vatican event, Anthropic announced a funding round that reportedly valued the company at nearly $1 trillion, reinforcing its status as one of the most influential firms in the rapidly expanding AI sector. The company subsequently confidentially filed paperwork for a US IPO, signalling its intention to enter public markets. These developments naturally prompted speculation about whether the Vatican’s engagement enhanced public confidence in the company or simply reflected its growing prominence within the technology industry.

However, there is no evidence that the Holy See endorsed Anthropic or that the encyclical had any direct influence on the company’s valuation, fundraising efforts or IPO plans. Analysts note that Anthropic’s financial growth has largely been driven by investor demand for artificial intelligence companies and the commercial success of advanced AI systems. While participation in a Vatican discussion may have strengthened perceptions of Anthropic as a serious voice in debates about AI ethics, the relationship appears to have been one of dialogue rather than endorsement, with the Church seeking to shape the broader conversation about technology’s impact on humanity.

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