Why the Pope wants to disarm AI

July 16, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

In May, Pope Leo XIV issued his first encyclical—a formal letter to the Catholic Church—titled Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity). He convened a gathering at the Vatican for its release, and among the invited guests was Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah. The Pope’s central warning: artificial intelligence needs to be disarmed. The encyclical draws a direct line back to Pope Leo XIII, who wrote more than 80 encyclicals in the late 1800s, most famously Rerum Novarum (“Of New Things”). That earlier letter addressed the upheaval of the Industrial Revolution—socialism, labor movements, and the dignity of workers. Now, Pope Leo XIV argues that AI represents a transformation of similar magnitude, with perhaps even greater consequences.

The historical parallel: Leo XIII and the labor question

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What you'll learn

1 (00:06) **Pope Leo XIV Issues Encyclical on AI** - The Pope releases his first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas," invoking his predecessor to warn that "artificial intelligence needs to be disarmed."
2 (01:18) **Setting Up the Episode** - Hosts introduce the topic: comparing Pope Leo XIII's response to industrialization with Pope Leo XIV's warnings about AI, noting Anthropic co-founder Chris Ola was invited to the Vatican.
3 (03:00) **Historical Context: Pope Leo XIII and "Rerum Novarum"** - Historian Janine Giordano Drake explains Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical addressed socialism and labor movements.
4 (04:43) **Impact on U.S. Labor Movements** - The American Federation of Labor used the Pope's language to recruit Catholic workers, making his priorities—better conditions, shorter weeks, living wages—explicit union goals.
5 (05:54) **Transition to Modern AI Disruption** - The episode pivots to the present, where worker displacement from AI is a key concern for Pope Leo XIV.
6 (06:04) **Pope Leo XIV's Warnings on AI** - The Pope acknowledges AI's efficiencies (e.g., accessing complex information) but warns of deeper risks to human relationships and dignity.
7 (06:33) **Expert Insight: Father Enzo Del Broco** - A priest and president of Pope Leo's alma mater explains the core question: "How can we keep ourselves human and serve the common good?"

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Show Notes

Over 100 years ago, Pope Leo XIII wrote a seminal letter encouraging workers to unionize in the face of industrialization. The current Pope Leo XIV in his seminal letter warned of an economic disruption from today that threatens workers - Artificial Intelligence.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

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