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Pope Leo XIV Releases AI Encyclical Warning Against ‘New Tower of Babel’

Vatican-, Magnifica Humanitas
May 26, 2026 12:50 AM IST | Written by Neelam Sharma | Edited by Pratima O Pareek

As artificial intelligence (AI) races ahead faster than governments can regulate it, the Vatican is stepping deeper into the global debate around the technology and its societal impact.

Pope Leo XIV, in his first major teaching document as Pope, Magnifica Humanitas, publicly released on May 25, warned that humanity is at a crossroads. The Holy See Press Office said the encyclical focuses on “safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence.”

“Humanity, created by God in all its grandeur, is today facing a pivotal choice: either to construct a new Tower of Babel or to build the city in which God and humanity dwell together,” Pope Leo XIV writes in the document.

In a post on X , Leo XIV shared the release of the encyclical and reiterated its warning about humanity’s technological future.

The encyclical was signed at the Vatican on May 15, exactly 135 years after Pope Leo XIII signed Rerum Novarum, the landmark 1891 encyclical addressing workers’ rights during the industrial revolution. The anniversary links the document to the Church’s earlier engagement with industrial-era economic and labor issues.

The encyclical references issues including surveillance, autonomous warfare, economic inequality and the concentration of technological power.

The Pope also used the document to urge governments and technology companies to ensure artificial intelligence serves humanity rather than concentrating power in the hands of a small number of actors.

The release follows the Vatican’s approval earlier this month of an Inter-Dicasterial Commission on AI

The Inter-Dicasterial Commission aims to bring together departments responsible for doctrine, communication, culture and human development and is expected to help coordinate Vatican AI policy and study the long-term societal impact of AI systems.

The commission includes representatives from the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Dicastery for Culture and Education, the Dicastery for Communication, the Pontifical Academy for Life, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

Christopher Olah, Anthropic co-founder and head of research on AI interpretability, also participated in the Vatican presentation panel alongside Church officials and academics.

AI FrontPage previously reported that Olah would join the Vatican presentation for the release of Magnifica Humanitas.

Also Read: Vatican Sets Up AI Commission Approved by Pope Leo XIV

Authors

  • Neelam Sharma, reporter at AI FrontPage

    Neelam Sharma is a passionate storyteller, and journalist with over a decade of experience across leading Indian media houses.
    Known for her calm presence on screen and powerful storytelling off it, Neelam brings a rare blend of credibility, creativity, and empathy to journalism. Her strength lies in ground reporting and research-driven narratives that connect with the heart of the audience. Whether covering social issues, human-interest features, or breaking news, she combines factual depth with a human touch—making every story not just informative.

    LinkedIn
  • Pratima Pareek, Editor and Co-founder of AI FrontPage

    Pratima O Pareek is an Editor and Co-Founder of AI FrontPage. A gold medalist in Mass Communication and Journalism, she's worked across national and international newsrooms, bringing sharp editorial instincts and a commitment to clarity. She believes in cutting through the noise to deliver stories that actually matter.
    Off the clock, she watches offbeat cinema, follows tennis, and explores new places like a traveler, not a tourist.

    LinkedIn

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