Pope Leo XIV warned Monday that AI in warfare must be subject to rigorous ethical limits, releasing his first major theological document at the Vatican.
The 235-page encyclical, titled “Magnifica Humanitas,” said control of artificial intelligence should not remain in the hands of a few.
Pope Leo said AI already affects decisions that shape human co-existence. He called for legal frameworks, independent oversight and informed users.
The pope also said the “just war” theory was outdated. He said military force should be used only for self-defence in the strictest sense.
Read: God Rejects Prayers of Leaders Who Wage War, Says Pope Leo
Chris Olah, co-founder of Anthropic, joined the Vatican launch and said AI decisions should not rest only with industry leaders.
The document also urged fairer resource distribution, job protection, social justice and care for the environment.
