- Pope Leo warned AI could create “new forms of dehumanization”
- Vatican says “opaque algorithms” threaten humanity and social justice
- The Pope called for global ethical standards around artificial intelligence
The Catholic Church has entered the AI debate in dramatic fashion. In one of the strongest warnings yet about artificial intelligence from a global religious leader, Pope Leo warned that artificial intelligence and “opaque algorithms” risk creating “new forms of dehumanization” if humanity loses control of the technology that shapes modern life.
The remarks of Pope Leo XIV are part of his new encyclical called Magnifica Humanitas. An encyclical is a formal document issued by the Vatican and traditionally used to address major moral or social issues. This latest document focuses exclusively on artificial intelligence, ethics and the growing power of technology companies.
As Silicon Valley continues the race to build ever more powerful AI systems, the pope’s intervention suggests that the battle over artificial intelligence is no longer just about innovation or productivity — it’s becoming a moral and philosophical battle about what it means to remain human.
The new Tower of Babel
Pope Leo Magnifica Humanitas: On protecting the human person in the age of artificial intelligence opens with a striking warning:
“Humanity, created by God in all its greatness, is today faced with a decisive choice: either to build a new Tower of Babel or to build the city where God and humanity live together.”
In the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, humans attempt to build a structure tall enough to reach heaven, a pride that ultimately leads to division and confusion.
Pope Leo XIV argues that modern artificial intelligence development risks repeating the mistake of concentrating power and knowledge in the hands of just a few companies and nations, widening the divide between those included in the digital revolution and those left behind.
Above all, the Pope calls for shared ethical standards rooted in social justice, warning that “a more moral AI is not enough if that morality is determined by a few”. He also emphasizes that the environmental impact of AI cannot be ignored, pointing to the vast amounts of energy and water required to power modern AI systems.
A growing global AI backlash
This latest intervention represents the Vatican’s clearest and most direct challenge to the companies driving the AI boom.
The Pope also took the unusual step of personally presenting the document at an event in the Vatican attended by politicians, academics and technology leaders. Among those present was Christopher Olah, co-founder of Anthropic, the AI company behind Claude. The US-based AI firm that famously pulled out of a deal with the Pentagon and is now embroiled in a lawsuit with Donald Trump’s administration over being labeled a “supply chain risk”.
The timing is essential. Governments around the world are struggling to regulate artificial intelligence, while companies like OpenAI, Google and Meta continue to push towards ever stronger AI systems. There is also a growing backlash against AI from the younger generation, especially when AI is mentioned in graduation speeches, driven by AI’s impact on their employment opportunities.
For years, most conversations about AI have focused on what the technology can do. Pope Leo’s message arrives at a time when the debate is increasingly centered on who should control it, the risk of that control remaining in the hands of a few tech companies, and what happens if humanity gives too much of itself away in the process.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds.
