Pope Leo’s address prior to publishing Encyclical Letter on “AI
Synod Hall – Monday, 25 May 2026
(This is an ‘easy reading version’ of the original text used by Pope Leo at the promulgation of the new encyclical letter on AI)
Pope Leo’s address
Dear brothers and sisters,
I want to thank all of you for being here today, for your interest.
I sincerely thank those who have organized this meeting today, and especially those who shared their competence and experience in the different reflections that we have listened to.
In a special way I would like to thank Mr (Christopher) Olah for accepting our invitation.
In turn, in the name of the Church, I accept your invitation to walk together, to listen and to speak and together to find the way for humanity, in this time of artificial intelligence.
What a great sign of hope that, despite our differences, we can listen to one another.
This exchange clearly shows how serious the moment is, and that we can work together to find answers to the important questions of our time and the future of humanity.
At pivotal moments in history, the Church is called upon to interpret the “new things” in light of the Gospel and human dignity.
One hundred thirty-five years ago, my venerable predecessor, Pope Leo XIII, observed the plight of factory workers and their uprooted families, as well as the new forms of poverty generated by rapid industrial transformation.
He realized that the Church could not remain indifferent.
At a pivotal moment threatening human dignity, the encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the “new things” underway with an evangelical and social perspective.
Today we are facing a transformation of similar magnitude, with perhaps even greater consequences.
Artificial intelligence already touches many areas of our lives and affects the decisions that shape human coexistence.
AI is also dramatically changing how war is waged.
As with the earlier Leo, I feel entrusted to witness another significant transformation with the eyes of faith, with the lucidity of reason, with an openness to mystery, and with the cries of the poor and the earth resonating in my heart.
“Magnifica humanitas” was born from the same kind of listening that Leo XIII did.
I have listened to scientists and engineers who work with sincere enthusiasm on technologies capable of alleviating immense suffering.
I have listened to political leaders and public officials who have perseveringly sought just rules.
I have listened to parents and teachers who are deeply concerned for the future of younger generations.
I have also heard troubling reports about increasingly autonomous weapons systems that are practically beyond the reach of humans to govern effectively.
I have heard troubling accounts of algorithms that can deny access to healthcare, employment, and security based on prejudiced and unjust data.
I have also heard the silence of those who have no voice when decisions are made.
From this listening, a disturbing conviction matured and was expressed in “Magnifica humanitas”: Artificial intelligence must be disarmed.
I know the word is strong, but it was deliberately chosen because this moment requires words that can attract attention, awaken consciences, and indicate paths forward for humanity.
Aware that every great technical power can affect people’s lives, the Church has long worked for nuclear disarmament, believing that such power must be accompanied by adequate moral discernment and public control.
Nuclear disarmament continues to be a service to peace and the dignity of the human family.
Similarly, artificial intelligence must be “disarmed” and freed from the logic that turns it into an instrument of domination, exclusion, and death.
Like nuclear energy, AI must serve all people and the greater good.
Decisions about technology must never be divorced from conscience and responsibility.
The Apostle Paul admonished: “Let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake” (1 Thessalonians. 5:6).
Such vigilance is necessary today.
Peace, not merely the absence of war, is justice at work.
However, when technology dulls our critical thinking, peace itself is at risk.
However, disarming is not enough. We must build
The word “build” reminds me of my years as a missionary in Peru.
In 2017, the northern part of the country was hit by torrential rains and floods.
Many families lost their homes to mudslides, and many roads were destroyed.
There, I learned that rebuilding means more than simply replacing what has been destroyed.
Rebuilding means repairing bonds, restoring trust, and reawakening hope in the future.
Furthermore, no one rebuilds alone.
In “Magnifica humanitas”, I am reminded of the biblical prophet Nehemiah.
Before the ruined walls of Jerusalem, he gathered discouraged people to inspire a rebirth.
Rather than legitimizing closures or divisions, the image of walls invites everyone to do their part.
Brick by brick, a more just coexistence capable of safeguarding the dignity of all takes shape. Nehemiah’s efforts speak to our time.
Artificial intelligence can be a construction site of history within a horizon of communion, where technical progress learns to serve human life.
St. Paul warns in 1 Cor. 3:10. “Let each builder choose with care how to build.”
He is not afraid of the worksite; rather, he warns against building without solid foundations.
We should not fear artificial intelligence, but rather, we should constantly consider the role of humanity.
We cannot be careless with our most powerful technical instruments.
According to St. Paul VI, true development always concerns “each man and the whole man.”
“Each” means that no person can be left at the margins of digital transformation.
“Whole” means that no one can be reduced to productivity, cognitive performance, or mere data. Each person has a freedom, interiority, and vocation to love and worship that no machine can replace or block.
Only with an integral vision can we direct artificial intelligence toward the common good.
Together—those who design systems and those affected by them, richer and poorer countries, institutions and individuals, and power centers and peripheries—we can build a future for the entire human family, not just a privileged few.
This is the civilization of love that St. Paul VI spoke of, and that St. John Paul II proclaimed as a goal to strive for together. It is not a naive dream. Rather, it is a direction.
It is the path that Jesus Christ opens within history.
For this reason, the Church humbly and frankly wishes to participate in conversations about artificial intelligence.
We do not have technical answers, nor do we seek to replace experts in the field.
However, we offer a wisdom about humanity that our time desperately needs: every person is unique and irreplaceable. Each person is a free and intelligent being with a conscience who is capable of seeking God, serving others, and caring for our common home.
Therefore, I invite all members of the Church and the human family to learn to listen to one another, face the present challenges with courage, and work together to build a more humane and fraternal society.
As you embark on this journey with “Magnifica humanitas please carry with you a commitment to stay awake and continue building the worksite of our time as “artisans of hope.”
May the Spirit of the risen Lord Jesus sustain our collaborative efforts.
I entrust each of you to our Mother Mary.
In her Magnificat, she sings of God’s greatness in uplifting the lowly.
May she teach us to recognize the true greatness of every man and woman through love and service. May the Lord bless the great enterprise we entrust to his grace today, allowing the civilization of love to flourish.
I heartily invoke God’s blessing upon all of you. Thank you very much.
