Two Paths Forward in Pope Leo’s AI Encyclical

Source: Independent Institute
by Robert M Whaples

“How can we safeguard the human person in the time of artificial intelligence? Pope Leo XIV offers two broad pathways in his new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas. Its most persistent warning is that AI is putting too much power into the hands of too few people, especially those who design AI programs and run the AI giants. … the encyclical suggests that ‘one viable path is … to establish social criteria for innovation. Here, every introduction of automation and AI should be accompanied by verifiable measures to protect the employment, retraining and participation of workers.’ … Would the State, which already has immense powers, use these additional powers wisely? Could it?” (06/10/26)

https://www.independent.org/article/2026/06/10/two-paths-forward-in-pope-leos-ai-encyclical/