The Vatican announced on Monday that Pope Leo XIV will publish his first encyclical on May 25th, focusing on artificial intelligence.
The document, titled Magnifica Humanitas (‘Magnificent Humanity’), carries the subtitle: “On the Protection of Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
The encyclical—one of the highest forms of papal teaching—is expected to address growing fears that AI could reshape work, society, and even human identity faster than governments or moral institutions can respond.
Leo XIV signed the document on May 15th, the 135th anniversary of Rerum Novarum, the landmark encyclical in which Pope Leo XIII responded to the social upheaval of the Industrial Revolution.
The pope has repeatedly argued that artificial intelligence represents a new industrial revolution requiring moral guidance from the Church.
The Vatican will formally present the document in the Synod Hall alongside senior Church officials and AI researcher Christopher Olah, highlighting the Holy See’s growing engagement with the technology sector.
