Pope Leo XIV on Monday issued a sweeping call for strict global regulation of artificial intelligence, warning that the technology must be guided by the “common good” rather than profit-driven competition. In his first encyclical titled Magnifica Humanitas, the Pope described AI as one of the most urgent challenges facing humanity and urged governments and technology companies to adopt strong safeguards to protect human dignity.

The Pope denounced what he called a “culture of power” driving the global AI race, particularly in the development of autonomous systems and remote warfare technologies. He said it was unacceptable to allow machines to make irreversible or lethal decisions without human accountability, warning that such developments risk deepening inequality and normalising conflict in modern warfare.

In the encyclical, Pope Leo XIV argued that artificial intelligence should not become “an instrument of domination, exclusion and death.” He called for enforceable legal frameworks, independent oversight, and stronger political responsibility in regulating AI systems. The pontiff stressed that ethical guidelines alone were insufficient unless backed by robust regulatory structures that ensure transparency and accountability.

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The document also raised concerns about the concentration of power in the hands of a few private technology companies, warning that unchecked control over data and algorithms could endanger vulnerable populations, including children. The Pope urged AI developers and political leaders to slow down the pace of innovation and reflect on its long-term social consequences rather than prioritising competition and profit.

Pope Leo linked his message to the broader tradition of Catholic social teaching, drawing parallels between the current AI revolution and the Industrial Revolution that shaped modern labour rights. He warned that rapid automation could displace workers on a large scale and insisted that economic systems must remain subordinate to human dignity, justice, and the common good rather than technological efficiency alone.

The Vatican’s publication of the encyclical has sparked wide discussion among policymakers, academics, and technology leaders, with some experts calling it a landmark moral statement on artificial intelligence. While some in the tech industry welcomed the Church’s engagement on the issue, others noted the tension between innovation and regulation as governments worldwide continue to debate how best to govern rapidly advancing AI systems.

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