Pope, Anthropic Co-Founder to Release AI Encyclical on May 25
Vatican City — Pope Francis and Anthropic co-founder will jointly unveil an AI-focused encyclical on May 25, marking a historic collaboration between religious leadership and artificial intelligence development, according to a Newsday report. The document will outline ethical guidelines for AI development, reflecting the Catholic Church’s stance on technology’s moral responsibilities.
The encyclical’s release date, May 25, coincides with the Feast of Saint Bede the Venerable, a medieval scholar known for his contributions to education and theology. Anthropic, a U.S.-based AI safety company, has not disclosed specifics about the collaboration but confirmed the partnership aligns with its mission to prioritize ethical AI research.
Experts suggest the encyclical could influence U.S. AI policy, particularly as federal agencies seek frameworks to regulate emerging technologies. “This collaboration bridges theological ethics with technical innovation in a way that could reshape corporate accountability,” said Dr. Emily Zhang, an AI ethics researcher at Stanford University.
The Vatican has previously addressed AI ethics, but this marks the first formal partnership with a major AI development company. The encyclical will be published in multiple languages and distributed through official Church channels and Anthropic’s public policy network.
