What Pope Leo XIV’s First Encyclical Says About the Power of AI

Elena Betti· May 26, 2026 · 8:17 PM UTC ·6 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 35 views

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Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, addresses the implications of artificial intelligence on society. The Pope emphasizes the need to ensure that technology serves human dignity and the common good, rather than concentrating power in the hands of a few. He advocates for transparency and plurality in the governance of AI to prevent it from becoming a tool of domination.

Key facts

▪The encyclical critiques the concentration of technological power among a few global players.
▪Pope Leo XIV connects the current digital transformation to the social doctrine of the Catholic Church.
▪He calls for AI to be made transparent and accessible to prevent monopolistic control.

How this story was covered

4 outlets in our directory ran this story, first to last over 26 hours. All of the coverage we found sits in one bucket: centre. That one-sidedness is itself worth noticing.

Centre · 3

▪ Notes on Pope Leo XIV's Encyclical on AI — Simon Willison’s Weblog
▪ Notes on Pope Leo XIV's encyclical on AI — Simon Willison's Weblog
▪ Pope Leo XIV's AI Encyclical: What Builders Must Know (2026) — DEV.to (Top)

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Original publisher	WIRED
Canonical URL	https://www.wired.com/story/what-pope-leo-xivs-first-encyclical-says-about-the-power-of-ai/
Publication time	Tue, 26 May 2026 20:17:47 +0000
Retrieval time	2026-05-26T20:22:54.110Z
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand

Elena BettiBusinessMay 26, 2026 4:17 PMWhat Pope Leo XIV’s First Encyclical Says About the Power of AIIn Magnifica Humanitas, the Pope decries the concentration of technological power in a few global players.Anthropic cofounder Chris Olah shakes hands with Pope Leo XIV ahead of the presentation of the first encyclical.Photograph: Alberto Pizzoli/Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyAn algorithm decides what we see, another filters what we read, and still others enter into the processes that govern work, information, and collective choices. In the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.

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