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Pope Leo XIV Issues Sweeping Call for AI Regulation and Ethical Oversight

By  |  May 25, 2026
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Pope Leo XIV on Monday urged governments and technology leaders to impose strong regulations on artificial intelligence, warning that the rapidly evolving technology risks becoming a tool of domination and violence if left unchecked.

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    Speaking at a special Vatican presentation of his first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas” (“Magnificent Humanity”), the pope said AI developers must prioritize the common good over corporate profit and political power. According to AP News, the document marks one of the most significant statements yet from the Catholic Church on emerging technology and its impact on society.

    “Artificial Intelligence now demands to be disarmed, freed from logics that turn it into an instrument of domination, exclusion and death,″ the pope said during the Vatican event.

    The encyclical had been highly anticipated since Leo, the first U.S.-born pope in history, signaled shortly after his election that artificial intelligence represented one of the greatest threats facing humanity. Per AP News, the pope’s concerns extend beyond economics and labor to the growing use of AI in military operations and warfare.

    In the document, Leo criticized what he described as a “culture of power” fueling the global race to develop increasingly advanced AI systems. He particularly condemned the expansion of remote warfare technologies and warned against surrendering human judgment to machines.

    According to AP News, the pope declared that it was “not permissible” for irreversible and lethal decisions to be handed over to artificial intelligence systems, drawing attention to ethical concerns surrounding autonomous weapons and military AI programs.

    The pope’s comments are also expected to intensify debate over AI policy in the United States. Per AP News, his position could create friction with the Trump administration, which has pursued aggressive deregulation policies aimed at accelerating AI development and innovation.

    Leo’s encyclical calls for international cooperation, ethical safeguards and stronger accountability standards for technology companies. The Vatican said the document is intended to guide political leaders, scientists and businesses as artificial intelligence increasingly shapes daily life, labor markets and global security.

    Source: AP News