What does Pope Leo really say about Artificial Intelligence in 'Magnifica Humanitas'? Why did the Pope choose AI as the subject of his first encyclical? And Is Artificial Intelligence a threat to human dignity?

Welcome to this CTS Roundtable discussion on 'Magnifica Humanitas', Pope Leo’s groundbreaking encyclical on Artificial Intelligence, technology and the future of humanity.

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In this Roundtable, Pierpaolo is joined by Sr Carino Hodder OP, Prof Jacob Phillips, and Fr Peter Wygnanski, to explore Pope Leo’s response to the AI revolution and to examine what Catholic Social Teaching can contribute to one of the defining debates of the twenty-first century.

As Artificial Intelligence continues to transform society, economics, education, communication, warfare and human relationships, the discussion asks whether AI will serve authentic human flourishing or contribute to a new technocratic culture that undermines human dignity.

Drawing on theology, philosophy, Scripture, and the Church’s social doctrine, the conversation unpacks Pope Leo’s central themes, including the dignity of the human person, freedom, responsibility, the common good, technological progress, transhumanism, AI ethics, automation, and the moral limits of emerging technologies.

The panel reflects on Pope Leo’s striking use of the biblical image of the Tower of Babel, his warning against treating technology as humanity’s salvation, and his call to build a society rooted in truth, solidarity, justice and peace.

They also explore the influence of St Augustine on Pope Leo’s vision, the dangers of technocratic power, the growing role of algorithms in public life, the ethics of Artificial General Intelligence and the challenge of ensuring that technological innovation remains at the service of the human person.

About Magnifica Humanitas

Magnifica Humanitas is Pope Leo’s landmark encyclical on Artificial Intelligence, technology, and the dignity of the human person. Building on the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching, Pope Leo addresses one of the most urgent questions of our age: how should humanity respond to the rapid rise of AI?Rather than offering a simple endorsement or rejection of Artificial Intelligence, Pope Leo examines AI through the lens of Christian anthropology, human dignity, freedom, responsibility, and the common good. Drawing on Scripture, Catholic theology, and the social doctrine of the Church, Magnifica Humanitas challenges the modern assumption that technological progress alone can solve humanity’s deepest problems.

A central theme of the encyclical is the contrast between the biblical image of the Tower of Babel and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Pope Leo argues that society faces a choice: to use technology as a tool for domination, control, and the concentration of power, or to place technological innovation at the service of authentic human flourishing, solidarity, justice, and peace.

The encyclical explores the ethical implications of AI in areas such as education, employment, economics, warfare, governance, communication, and human relationships. It warns against technocratic ideologies, transhumanism, and attempts to redefine humanity through technology, while affirming the unique value of every human person created in the image of God.

At its heart, Magnifica Humanitas is a call to recover a truly human vision of progress. In an era increasingly shaped by Artificial Intelligence, Pope Leo reminds the world that humanity cannot be reduced to data, efficiency, or computation. The future must be guided not only by technological innovation but by wisdom, moral responsibility, and a renewed understanding of what it means to be human.

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