Pope Leo XIV to Issue Catholic Church’s First AI-Focused Encyclical

Vatican City — Pope Leo XIV is set to issue the Catholic Church’s first encyclical focused on artificial intelligence, according to a report from Google News.

The encyclical, described as a formal papal letter to all Catholics, will explore AI’s impact on human dignity, moral responsibility and the Church’s role in guiding ethical technological development. Vatican officials confirmed the document will address concerns ranging to algorithmic bias to the spiritual implications of autonomous systems.

While the release lacks direct U.S. policy implications, the document could influence global AI ethics frameworks. The Vatican has increasingly engaged with tech leaders, hosting dialogues on AI governance in recent years.

This marks the first time an encyclical will comprehensively address artificial intelligence, a topic previously covered in fragmented Vatican statements. The document will join papal teachings on bioethics and environmental stewardship as foundational Church guidance on modern challenges.