Pope’s AI Encyclical Urges Rules to Protect Jobs

Pope Leo XIV published MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS on Monday, his first encyclical focused on artificial intelligence. The Vatican released the document to address how AI affects work, human dignity and social life.

The encyclical describes AI as a powerful tool that “can cause harm when not oriented toward the good” and calls for actions that preserve and amplify human dignity rather than reject technology. The pope urges people and institutions to remain “profoundly human” while new forms of dehumanization emerge from automated systems and data-driven decision-making.

The document criticizes a technocratic approach that prioritizes efficiency, control and profit over public oversight. It states that “when such power is concentrated in the hands of a few, it tends to become opaque and evade public oversight, increasing the risk of distorted forms of development that give rise to new dependencies, exclusions, manipulations, and inequalities.” The encyclical calls for greater transparency and democratic oversight of AI systems.

Work and employment are central themes. The letter says that “work is not simply an instrument; it expresses and enhances the dignity of our lives” and that “the pursuit of greater profits cannot justify choices that systematically sacrifice jobs, because the human person is an end, not a means.” It urges employers and policymakers to design transitions that protect meaningful labor opportunities as automation expands.

To measure social progress, MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS recommends moving beyond Gross Domestic Product and adopting metrics that account for well-being and environmental health. The document asks national governments and international bodies to coordinate policies that promote social inclusion, the common good and dignified work rather than leave outcomes solely to market forces.

The encyclical urges businesses and regulators to adopt a human-centered approach to machine learning, robotics and related technologies. It requests ethical limits, public debate and legal frameworks to prevent harms such as job displacement, social exclusion and manipulation.

Leo XIV notes that faith traditions are debating how to respond to rapid technological change and writes that the church’s social teaching must adapt. The letter sets out ethical principles and calls for legislation, international cooperation and public oversight to align AI development with human rights, labor protections and environmental stewardship.