Pope Leo XIV released his first papal encyclical titled ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ (Magnificent Humanity) on May 25, focused on protecting human dignity in the AI era. Notably, Christopher Olah, co-founder of Anthropic and interpretability researcher, appeared alongside the Pope at the announcement. The document represents the first major doctrinal statement from the Catholic Church specifically addressing AI development, safety, and its societal impact.
Why it matters: A papal encyclical on AI, co-presented with an Anthropic founder, signals AI ethics has moved firmly into mainstream institutional and moral discourse — with potential policy and public-opinion implications globally.