Pope Leo calls for being ‘profoundly human’ in the age of AI

Source: The Verge

The Moral Vision

The pope likens the current AI era to the Tower of Babel, urging society to avoid the “Babel syndrome”—the idolatry of profit that sacrifices the weak, imposes uniformity, and pretends that a single (digital) language can translate the mystery of the person into data and performance. He stresses that human dignity must be central to decision‑making and governance, calling for “moral and social discernment that safeguards the primacy of the human person, so that human intelligence, with its conscience and freedom, guides technical innovations and responsibly determines their use and limits.”

Key Areas of Concern

• Labor and Job Loss – Rapid AI adoption creates economic and social upheaval, with inadequate protections for individuals.
• AI‑Powered Warfare – Decisions about lethal force must remain in human hands, not opaque technological systems.
• Children and Education – The need for teachers and students to engage responsibly, critically, and creatively with new technology.
• Algorithmic Transparency – Accountability when algorithms affect hiring, access to services, and opportunities.
• Environmental Impact – Development of more sustainable AI technologies.

Proposals for a Human‑Centred Approach

• Social Criteria for Automation – Introduce safeguards and retraining programs for workers affected by AI.
• Human Oversight of Lethal Force – Ensure that only humans can decide when to use lethal force.
• Educational Support – Provide resources for teachers and students to use technology responsibly.
• Transparency & Accountability – Require clear explanations for algorithmic decisions in hiring and service provision.
• Sustainable AI Development – Promote environmentally friendly AI practices.

Historical Context

Pope Leo chose his papal name in reference to the industrial revolution, echoing his predecessor Pope Leo XIII, who issued the encyclical Rerum Novarum on protecting workers amid technological change.

Engagement with the Tech Industry

The pope has been meeting with AI leaders. Anthropic co‑founder Christopher Olah was present at the presentation of the encyclical. Representatives from Amazon, Meta, and Google have met Vatican officials ahead of the publication, as reported by Politico. While some groups have tried to “AGI‑pill” the pope, Magnifica Humanitas does not explicitly mention artificial general intelligence.

Disarming Technology, Not Rejecting It

The encyclical does not oppose AI outright. Instead, Pope Leo calls for the “disarming” of technology—both militarily and socio‑economically. Disarming means rejecting the assumption that technical power automatically confers the right to govern, while still embracing technology that serves humanity rather than dominates it.