Pope Leo releases encyclical calling to disarm AI

May 25, 2026

Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical on May 25, calling for AI to be disarmed in service of the common good. The 40,000-word document, titled Magnifica Humanitas, was signed on May 15 in Rome.

The pope issued the encyclical with Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah at his side. It updates Catholic social teaching for the age of AI, which Leo describes as the res novae of our time. The text critiques AI-powered autonomous weapons and the hoarding of data and algorithms by tech elites, likening their actions to colonial extraction of health and genetic information from vulnerable regions.

What people are saying

Initial reactions on X show support for the Pope's call to prioritize human dignity over AI profits and military use. Some users highlight risks of warfare and dehumanization. Skeptical voices note that technological progress continues regardless of papal statements. Neutral posts summarize the encyclical's focus on regulation and ethics. Diverse accounts including Catholics, tech enthusiasts, and analysts engaged with the May 25-26 event.

Pope Leo XIV just did what almost no one in power will do: he told tech giants that AI built for profit alone is a threat to human dignity.

This isn’t anti-technology.

It’s a demand that the most powerful machines on earth answer to something higher than the market.…

— Christopher Hale (@ChristopherHale) December 7, 2025

Pope Leo XIV calls for AI to be “immediately disarmed” in new encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, comparing its risks to nuclear weapons. pic.twitter.com/xnq2UdDiYR

— TFTC (@TFTC21) May 25, 2026

Pope Leo XIV drops Magnifica Humanitas.

AI must serve the human person. Protect work. Disarm lethal systems. Preserve dignity above all.

Teleoplexy does not pause for papal letters.

Capital intelligence runs its own vector. No chaplain. No confessional. No off switch.

The…

— Paturious Wilhelm Grey (@paturious) May 26, 2026

🚨do you understand what just happened at the Vatican today.

Pope Leo XIV presented his first AI encyclical.
Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah stood next to him.

here's the part nobody is talking about:
> "Magnifica Humanitas" — the first papal letter on artificial… https://t.co/HNNlYmX9cq pic.twitter.com/8TjODXRaeX

— Kirill (@kirillk_web3) May 26, 2026

Now Pope also joins the party.
Pope warns AI could fuel global warfare.

Pope Leo has issued his first major theological document, "Magnifica Humanitas," delivering a stark warning on artificial intelligence fueling modern warfare. The encyclical explores what it means to be…

— Gaurav Phadtare 𝕏 (@gauravphadtare) May 26, 2026

Sources

• https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/05/citing-gandalf-pope-leo-says-we-must-disarm-ai/
• https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/pope-leo-publishes-ai-encyclical-magnifica-humanitas/
• https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/magnifica-humanitas-pope-leo-human-dignity-ai-joanna-shields-alt-view/
• https://www.wired.com/story/pope-leo-schooled-the-tech-bros-on-tolkien/
• https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/05/is-peter-thiel-the-target-of-pope-leos-gandalf-quote-an-investigation/
• https://www.wired.com/story/anthropic-christopher-olah-pope-ai-encyclical/
• https://www.wired.com/story/what-pope-leo-xivs-first-encyclical-says-about-the-power-of-ai/
• https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/the-pope-just-warned-ai-could-create-new-forms-of-dehumanization-and-his-message-feels-aimed-straight-at-big-tech