Magnifica humanitas

Magnifica humanitas Latin for 'magnificent humanity' Encyclical of Pope Leo XIV
Signature date	15 May 2026 (2026-05-15)
Subject	On safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence
Number	1 of 1 of the pontificate
Text	In English

Magnifica humanitas (lit. 'magnificent humanity') is the first encyclical of Pope Leo XIV, concerned with "safeguarding the human person in the age of artificial intelligence". It was published on 25 May 2026.

Leo chose to present the encyclical personally at the Vatican, unlike most other popes who delegated this task to cardinals. The presentation was attended by AI experts, including Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah.

The encyclical argues for placing dignity of the human person at the center of all reflection and, in turn, making it the fundamental criterion guiding technological progress and the assessment of its social, cultural, and moral consequences. It also asserts that human experience, expression, and intelligence are divine creations, not comparable to artificial intelligence systems which are optimized according to technocratic principles.

The encyclical affirms the principles of the Church's social doctrine—particularly common good, solidarity, and subsidiarity—as tools to be used for interpreting the ongoing transformation. Faced with the risk of a culture consumed by power, domination, and war, the document proposes the alternative possibility of a civilization of love founded on justice, dialogue, and shared responsibility.