The Vatican has officially announced the release of the first encyclical of Pope Leo XIV. Titled Magnifica Humanitas, the encyclical letter will be published on May 25 and will present the Church’s official position on one of today’s most complex issues: protecting human dignity and the human person in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
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The document is already generating major global anticipation. The text was signed by the Pontiff on May 15, a date loaded with historical symbolism: exactly 135 years after the publication of Rerum Novarum by Pope Leo XIII, the document that inaugurated the Church’s Social Doctrine in response to the challenges of the Industrial Revolution.
With Magnifica Humanitas, Leo XIV proposes a similar milestone, establishing the Church’s discernment in the face of today’s technological revolution.
Presence of One of the World’s Leading AI Figures
One of the most striking details of the announcement was the confirmation of the speakers for the document’s official presentation at the Holy See Press Office. Among cardinals and theologians, Christopher Olah stands out as the co-founder of Anthropic and one of the world’s leading authorities on AI safety and ethics.
Olah’s presence — widely recognized for his research on the interpretability of artificial intelligence language models — reveals the Vatican’s strong desire to engage directly with the scientists and innovators shaping the future of technology.
Encyclical Presentation Panel
The launch discussion will bring together high technology, theology, and the tradition of Catholic Social Teaching, featuring:
- Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández: Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith;
- Cardinal Michael Czerny: Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development;
- Christopher Olah: Researcher and co-founder of Anthropic;
- Anna Rowlands: British theologian from Durham University;
- Leocadie Lushombo: Specialist in Catholic social thought at the Jesuit School of Theology.
Focus on Worker Dignity and Ethics
According to preliminary notes released by the Holy See, the encyclical will address the ethical risks of algorithms, the impact of automation on the global labor market, the moral limits of developing superintelligence, and the urgent need to place technology at the service of the common good rather than profit or social control.
