Pope Leo XIV warns against unchecked AI growth, calls for ethical and human-centred governance

Pope Leo XIV has issued a strong warning over the rapid and largely unchecked expansion of artificial intelligence, urging the global community to “disarm” AI before it begins to dominate human beings and weaken moral responsibility, human dignity and social justice.

In his first major encyclical titled Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence, the pontiff described AI as one of the defining forces shaping modern society. The document comes at a time when major technology companies including OpenAI and Anthropic are accelerating the development of advanced AI systems, fuelling global debates around job displacement, misinformation, surveillance and technological control.

The Pope stressed that while AI can offer significant benefits across communication, governance, healthcare and education, technological innovation must remain under human guidance. He argued that conscience, freedom and ethical judgment should always determine the use and limits of AI systems.

“We must avoid the misconception of equating this type of intelligence with that of human beings,” the encyclical stated, noting that AI systems merely imitate certain functions of human intelligence through data processing and computational speed.

The Pope emphasised that AI lacks essential human qualities such as emotional understanding, relationships, moral conscience and lived experience. According to the document, machines cannot truly comprehend concepts like love, friendship, responsibility or suffering, despite appearing increasingly intelligent.

Alongside ethical concerns, the encyclical also raised alarms over the environmental cost of AI expansion. The Pope pointed to the massive energy and water consumption required to operate large-scale AI systems and data centres, warning that growing computational demands are placing increasing pressure on natural resources and contributing to carbon emissions.

Calling for a “measured and vigilant approach,” the pontiff urged governments, developers and global institutions to ensure that technological progress does not come at the expense of sustainability or human welfare.

The document further argued that AI is not morally neutral because it reflects the values, assumptions and biases of those who design it. The Pope warned that without accountability and oversight, AI systems could reinforce inequality, exclusion and concentration of power.

He advocated stronger legal frameworks, transparent governance, public participation and ethical regulation to ensure AI serves the common good rather than commercial or geopolitical dominance. The encyclical also criticised monopolistic control over data and computational infrastructure, urging developers to design systems rooted in justice, solidarity and respect for human dignity.

The intervention adds to the growing global discourse on responsible AI governance, as policymakers, educators and technology leaders worldwide grapple with balancing innovation and societal safeguards in the age of artificial intelligence.