Pope Leo XIV to Unveil AI Encyclical with Anthropic Co-founder

Pope Leo XIV is set to release a landmark encyclical on Monday, titled “Magnifica Humanitas,” which aims to address the preservation of human dignity in the era of artificial intelligence. In a significant move, the Pope will be joined in Vatican City by leading Catholic figures and Chris Olah, a co-founder of the AI company Anthropic, to unveil the document.

A New Papal Focus on Technology

The upcoming encyclical marks the first of Leo’s tenure and serves as a formal letter sent to all bishops in the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope has previously expressed concerns regarding the impact of AI, noting that the world is experiencing an “eclipse of the sense of what it means to be human.” He has specifically criticized the “unbridled promotion and implementation of technology at the expense of human dignity” and the potential for chatbots to exploit human relationships.
Leo’s interest in the subject dates back to his election in May 2025, when he emphasized that the church could offer guidance on how to navigate the challenges AI poses to justice, labor, and human dignity. He has explicitly linked his approach to the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, whose 1891 encyclical “Rerum Novarum” provided a framework for navigating the social shifts of the Industrial Revolution.

Bridging Faith and Innovation

The inclusion of Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah at the unveiling highlights an ongoing dialogue between the Vatican and AI developers. Anthropic has previously engaged with religious leaders, hosting gatherings in March and April to discuss the spiritual development of its systems. The company has also noted that it trains its AI, Claude, to conform to a constitution that shapes the entity’s behavior.
However, the collaboration has drawn scrutiny from some religious experts. Will Jones, who leads faith outreach at the Future of Life Institute, noted that many within Abrahamic faiths would object to the idea that an AI system could possess personhood. Similarly, Vatican theologians and the Pope’s advisor, Franciscan friar Paolo Benanti, have argued that human intelligence is distinct and sacred, characterized by a “divine spark” that cannot be replicated by probabilistic computation.

Expectations for the Encyclical

Charles Camosy, a professor of moral theology at the Catholic University of America, suggests the encyclical will likely be “of two minds.” He expects the document to apply traditional gospel teachings to modern circumstances while simultaneously introducing new strategies and calls to action regarding AI.
The Pope signed the document on May 15, the 135th anniversary of the signing of “Rerum Novarum.” To accompany the release, Leo will deliver an address, further underscoring the Vatican’s commitment to addressing the potential effects of AI on humanity as a whole. This follows the recent approval of a new interdepartmental Vatican commission tasked with exchanging information on the subject.