Pope Leo XIV Drops Major Encyclical Taking Aim at AI
The pope calls for AI company regulation and child protection against hypersexualized AI-generated imagery.
Pope Leo XIV has released an encyclical focused squarely on artificial intelligence, marking a significant move by the leader of the Roman Catholic Church into the AI debate.
The document calls for regulation of AI companies and demands protections for children against hypersexualized AI-generated images. It addresses broader concerns around misuse and overuse of the technology.
The encyclical represents a powerful foray by the Vatican into territory typically dominated by tech executives, lawmakers, and regulators. By putting AI governance into a formal papal document, the Church is staking out clear ground on one of the defining technological issues of the era.
No specific legislative proposals or enforcement mechanisms were outlined in the reporting. But the signal is unmistakable: the Vatican wants a seat at the AI regulation table.