Pope Leo XIV has released a new encyclical titled Magnifica humanitas: On safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial Intelligence, marking a significant intervention by the Vatican in the global debate surrounding artificial intelligence, ethics, and human dignity.

The encyclical was presented at an event in Vatican City, where Chris Olah, co-founder of Anthropic, was invited to speak as part of the company’s broader initiative to encourage dialogue around the societal and ethical implications of AI.

In his remarks, Olah acknowledged that frontier AI companies operate under commercial, geopolitical, and competitive pressures that can at times conflict with long-term societal interests. He stressed the importance of external oversight from philosophers, religious institutions, policymakers, and civil society groups to ensure AI development remains aligned with human values and public safety.

“That is why, if we want this technology to go well, it is enormously important that there be people outside those incentives,” Olah said, highlighting the need for thoughtful criticism and independent ethical scrutiny.

Olah also argued that the questions raised by AI extend far beyond computer science, describing modern AI systems as technologies “grown” from vast amounts of human language and knowledge rather than traditionally engineered systems. Comparing advanced AI systems to “fictional characters brought to life,” he said their growing role in work and daily life raises profound philosophical and societal questions.

The Vatican’s latest encyclical reflects increasing global concern over AI governance, transparency, safety, and the preservation of human agency as generative AI technologies rapidly expand across industries and public life.

The move also signals a growing intersection between technology leaders and faith-based institutions in shaping conversations around responsible AI development, ethics, and humanity’s long-term relationship with intelligent systems.