Pope Leo's New Encyclical on AI, and What It Means for the World

Thanks for listening! Let us know what you think. God bless!Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 25, 2026 -- the day Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence." OSV News Vatican editor Courtney Mares was on site for the press conference unveiling this historic document, which points to Catholic social teaching as the urgently needed framework for ensuring AI helps, rather than harms, humanity. Tune in and listen as we bring you the details and deep dives on the encyclical at osvnews.com.Read the stories in this episode, plus more from our ongoing coverage of Pope Leo's new encyclical:Pope Leo XIV published his landmark encyclical on artificial intelligence "Magnifica Humanitas" May 25, comparing the attempt to build an AI future that excludes God to the "Tower of Babel" and underlining the need to safeguard human dignity as it is "threatened by new forms of dehumanization." Pope Leo XIV called for vigilance as he spoke at the Vatican press conference May 25 to present his first encyclical on artificial intelligence, saying his conversations with industry leaders -- including "very troubling voices" who warned of autonomous weapons systems beyond effective human governance -- had led him to the conviction that AI must be disarmed.Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah used the Vatican presentation of Pope Leo XIV's new encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas" to call for stronger moral oversight of artificial intelligence. Cardinals and theologians at the press conference for the encyclical shared additional concerns over AI and its impact -- including threats to the Global South.Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical on artificial intelligence is "a powerful reminder that no technology can replace a child of God, and all technology should be placed at the service of helping humanity thrive," said Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City. What do Babel, Nehemiah, transhumanism and technocratic paradigm have in common? They're all terms in Pope Leo's new encyclical. Check out our guide; we looked them up so you don't have to.A look at the AI company Anthropic, whose co-founder Christopher Olah  participated in the Holy See press conference introducing "Magnifica Humanitas" May 25.What's "emergent misalignment"? What happens when AI goes rogue.