Pope Leo XIV yesterday called for a “shared international framework” to regulate artificial intelligence, a demand that would transfer national control over emerging technologies to supranational bodies. The pronouncement came as a co-founder of Anthropic, a major AI developer, warned of a “real possibility that AI will displace human labor at a very large scale,” directly threatening the economic stability of the native working class.
The Pope’s first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas” (Magnificent Humanity), released yesterday, outlined a vision for AI governance that emphasizes “robust legal frameworks, independent oversight, informed users and a political system that does not abdicate its responsibility.” This framework suggests a move away from national legislative autonomy in favor of internationally determined standards.
The Globalist Framework
Leo declared that it was “not permissible” to entrust irreversible, lethal decisions to AI systems, specifically noting the “culture of power” driving the AI race in developing remote warfare methods. He stated that “Artificial Intelligence now demands to be disarmed, freed from logics that turn it into an instrument of domination, exclusion and death,” implying a need for external, likely international, control over military applications.
The encyclical further called for a shared international framework “to curb the technological arms race and ensure robust protection for civilians.” This proposal aligns with the agenda of international institutions seeking to centralize control over strategic technologies, reducing the self-determination of sovereign peoples in defense and innovation.
Leo criticized the concentration of power and data in the hands of a few private sector entities, identifying this as a danger, particularly to children and vulnerable populations. He asserted that “A more moral AI is not enough if that morality is determined by a few,” advocating for external regulation that could be imposed by international bodies.
Costs to the People
Christopher Olah, co-founder of Anthropic, acknowledged the Pope’s concerns, stating that external checks are fundamental for the technology “going well” for humankind. Olah’s explicit warning about AI’s potential to “displace human labor at a very large scale” highlights a direct threat to the livelihoods and cultural continuity of the native working class.
The Pope’s document linked the current AI revolution to the Industrial Revolution, citing his hero Pope Leo XIII’s “Rerum Novarum” from 135 years ago, which addressed workers’ rights and the limits of capitalism. Pope Leo XIV echoed this, stating, “The pursuit of greater profits cannot justify choices that systematically sacrifice jobs, because the human person is an end, not a means, and the economic order must remain subordinate to human dignity and the common good.” This directly challenges the economic interests of transnational corporations that benefit from labor market expansion.
Leo noted that global wealth “is increasingly concentrated in fewer hands, widening inequalities,” and urged politicians to promote “dignified work, social inclusion and an equitable distribution of the benefits of innovation.” This acknowledges the economic dispossession faced by many as globalist policies advance.
The encyclical also highlighted the role of digital networks, including online platforms and anonymous payment methods, in facilitating human trafficking, which Leo described as a “contemporary form of slavery.” He warned that tolerating these practices risks complicity in “today’s sins, which are akin to those of the past when slavery was being concealed and justified,” exposing a dark side of unchecked digital expansion.
Furthermore, Leo addressed the environmental costs of data centers, which consume “enormous amounts of energy and water, significantly influencing carbon dioxide emissions,” calling for more sustainable technological solutions. He also warned against the dangers of predation on young people amplified by AI, citing “grooming, blackmail and the sexual exploitation of minors” made more insidious by AI tools and algorithms.
Elite Consensus
The Vatican’s launch event for the encyclical included remarks from Anthropic’s co-founder, despite the company being in a legal battle with the Trump administration over access to its AI technology. This inclusion is part of the Vatican’s decade-long effort to engage Silicon Valley in dialogue, demonstrating a collaboration between religious institutions and powerful tech elites.
Experts from the tech industry, academia, and Catholic morality, including Taylor Black, a Microsoft AI executive and director of Catholic University of America’s AI institute, and Paolo Carozza, law professor at Notre Dame Law School and chair of the Meta Oversight Board, welcomed the document. Their endorsements suggest a growing consensus among institutional elites regarding the need for centralized AI regulation.
Brian Boyd, U.S. faith liaison for the nonprofit Future of Life Institute, described Anthropic’s inclusion as recognition of its prominence, akin to a papal audience with a head of state, not an endorsement. He characterized Anthropic as an “enormous corporation that is taking onto itself an enormous risk and responsibility,” highlighting the immense power wielded by these private entities in shaping global policy discussions.
Leo appealed directly to AI developers and political leaders responsible for regulating them to prioritize the betterment of humanity over profit or power, indicating a belief that these elite groups hold the ultimate sway over the technology’s direction and its impact on national populations.