Pope Leo XIV has issued a historic apology for the Catholic Church’s past role in legitimising slavery, describing it as a “wound in Christian memory,” as he released a landmark encyclical addressing human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence.
His first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, focuses on safeguarding the human person in the era of AI and was presented at the Vatican alongside church officials, academics, and AI experts.
It combines traditional Catholic social teaching with new ethical guidance on AI, addressing concerns over its impact on labour, education, security, and global stability.
An encyclical is an official papal letter addressed primarily to bishops but intended for the wider Church, offering guidance on doctrine, morals, and contemporary social issues.
The presentation included senior Vatican officials and global experts such as Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Cardinal Michael Czerny and theologian Professor Anna Rowlands, but also Christopher Olah, co-founder of Anthropic (AI company), alongside other academic and religious figures.
Olah said in an X post that AI’s challenges extend beyond the tech industry and require cooperation between religious communities, civil society, and governments.
In his first major document, Pope Leo XIV urged governments to slow the development of artificial intelligence systems, warning that unchecked progress could amplify misinformation, deepen conflict.
He wrote that “the use of force, violence and weapons reflects a relational poverty that always has disastrous consequences for civilian populations.”
The pope called for “robust legal frameworks, independent oversight, informed users and a political system that does not abdicate its responsibility.”
He also warned against concentrating AI development in private hands, urging stronger protection for workers, safeguards for children, and measures to curb excessive competition in the tech sector.
The encyclical expands its focus to global instability, highlighting rising conflicts, weakening multilateral institutions, and the influence of arms industries.
Pope Leo XIV also issued a historic apology for the Holy See’s role in legitimising slavery and its failure to condemn it for centuries, describing it as a “wound in Christian memory.” He is the first pope to explicitly acknowledge and apologise for papal authority that once empowered European rulers to enslave “infidels.”
He linked this legacy to modern global inequalities, warning that today’s digital economy risks creating new forms of exploitation.
In particular, he highlighted poor labour conditions in global supply chains, including the extraction of rare minerals used in AI technologies, drawing parallels with historical colonialism and slavery.
He concluded by urging global leaders not to lose faith in their ability to shape change, stressing that ethical and political decisions will determine the future of both artificial intelligence and humanity.
Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant may continue operating at reduced capacity until Tuesday, temporarily easing pressure on the country’s electric...
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has said Tehran is not currently involved in direct talks with Washington about reopening the St...
Myanmar's detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday, after years of ...
A tourist aircraft crashed near Peru's UNESCO-listed Nazca Lines on Saturday (1 August), killing all 13 people on board, authorities said.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has said Tehran is not currently involved in direct talks with Washington about reopening the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran were to begin on Monday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said late on Saturday he would hold off on a fresh attack on Iran as long as a deal could be reached quickly to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Two firefighting helicopters collided while battling a major wildfire in Greece on Sunday, killing two crew members as emergency services continued efforts to contain fires fuelled by extreme heat and dry conditions across Europe.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said wildfires that swept across France were now under control. Authorities warned that risks remained as Greece and Spain continued battling active blazes across parts of Europe.
Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant may continue operating at reduced capacity until Tuesday, temporarily easing pressure on the country’s electricity grid during an intense heatwave.
Myanmar's detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday, after years of questions over the health and well-being of the 81-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Indonesian rescue teams are searching for 28 people still unaccounted for, three days after a passenger ferry caught fire off the coast of Madura island.
17 Gaming won the PUBG: Battlegrounds title at the Games of the Future 2026 in Astana after a closely fought tournament that was decided in the 15th and final match.
Cuba faced another nationwide blackout after its electricity grid failed, deepening an energy crisis tied to fuel shortages and U.S. sanctions.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment