The Holy See has released the first papal encyclical by Pope Leo XIV, titled ‘Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence’, which invites reflection on the ethical implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on war, relationships and the battle between good and evil. The Pope signed the encyclical on May 15, the 135th anniversary of the release of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical ‘Rerum Novarum’. The encyclical was then released to the public on May 25.

In this article, Anglican News features some Anglican responses to this important encyclical and their perspectives on the expanding role of AI.

Pope Leo’s ‘Magnifica Humanitas’

At an event held to mark the release of ‘Magnifica Humanitas’, Pope Leo XIV said that ‘Artificial Intelligence must be disarmed’. Reflecting on his choice of topic for his encyclical, Pope Leo shared, ‘At key moments in history, the Church is called to decipher the new things in the light of the Gospel and the dignity of the human being… Artificial Intelligence already touches many areas of our lives and affects decisions that shape human coexistence. It is also dramatically changing how war is waged.’

Pope Leo reflected that Magnifica Humanitas was born from his listening with an open heart to ‘scientists and engineers who work with sincere enthusiasm at technology capable of alleviating immense suffering,’ as well as to ‘parents and teachers who are deeply concerned for the future of younger generations.’

Anglicans and AI

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, hosted a debate in the House of Lords on 5 June to discuss the impact of AI on human relationships and wider society. Archbishop Sarah shared in her speech that ‘Wave after wave of technological innovation is taking place as we speak, and the question we should be asking is simple: Where are we going? What is our vision for how this technology will serve human flourishing?’ She continued, ‘Above all, we need to ensure that AI is being designed, built, regulated and used to serve our glorious humanity and not to diminish it.’

The Anglican Communion Science Commission

AI is one of the major themes being explored by the Anglican Communion Science Commission (ACSC) in its work of equipping Anglicans for thoughtful and courageous leadership in science. The ACSC exists to explore ways for the science and faith communities to collaborate in response to issues affecting the world today, and to bring the ethical voice of faith to scientific debate.

The Rt Revd Stephen Croft, who has recently retired as both Bishop of Oxford and Co-chair of the Anglican Communion Science Commission, spoke in the House of Lords on 5 June about the ‘crossroads’ that humanity faces regarding AI. Bishop Stephen observed that ‘the primary risk of AI in the present moment is that the technology is being developed primarily for profit, for financial gain, for shareholder benefit… rather than [for] the benefit of humanity and our common home. Those commercial gains are mind-boggling for the few, but as profits rise, the very concept of what it means to be human is being reduced. Human beings shrink in dignity and glory to become simply consumers of goods or services. Here to give our attention, our money, our brand loyalty, our image.’

Stressing that ‘technological change is not always progress’, Bishop Stephen shared the concerns of young people in the Diocese of Oxford who fear, or have experienced, the impact of AI on the already precarious landscape of work. He suggested that ‘Governments need a richer, deeper understanding of what it means to be human - Beyond creating a nation of consumers, to a nation of citizens and drawing on the ancient paths of wisdom,’ through which the nation may ‘be able to shape our economy for the benefit of families and society, not simply the profits of technology companies’.

The Episcopal Church

The Rt Revd Andrew (Andy) Doyle, Episcopal Bishop of Texas, Chairs The Episcopal Church Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property, recently shared with Anglican News that while leaders in AI claim many benefits, including in medical and scientific acceleration, there is also an inherent danger in the power that AI wields in the concentrated hands of a few individuals.

‘The Pope is correct that there is a danger here. It is concerning that a few companies, individuals no less, hold a lion’s share of the world’s data and power. Such powers and institutions, easily taking on a life of their own and using the very people they promise to serve, are not new. We are creatures, never gods. The encyclical is a gift, and as global Anglicans, we receive it with gratitude and learn from its clarity. Yet we must offer our own word on AI rather than echoing the Pope.’

Bishop Andy warns against a trajectory that leads humanity to a place ‘where regulations become our end-all solution’, and where we surrender to ‘sheer velocity’ in which ‘the value generated benefits only some.’

Bishop Andy urges Anglicans to advocate for an AI movement that ‘liberates, rather than continues to use people as commodities in a surveillance-capitalist economy’. He encourages humanity to remember our imperfections and our need for God and the sacraments of grace above all else.

The Church of Pakistan (United)

Sheba Sultan is a member of the Fellowship of Young Anglican Science Enthusiasts through the Church of Pakistan as well as a university lecturer, author and linguistics researcher at the University of Central Punjab. Sheba told Anglican News that she sees the potential of AI to widen the rift between the privileged and the disadvantaged in her part of the Communion.

‘Having spent nearly two decades promoting education in Pakistan, I read Pope Leo XIV's encyclical through the lens of my own context. Development, whether educational, technological or social, is intended to expand human knowledge, develop human potential and create opportunities for communities to flourish. Yet, in many developing contexts, advancement often becomes a dividing line between those who have access to opportunity and those who do not.

‘The emergence of Artificial Intelligence presents a similar challenge. As Pope Leo XIV observes, technological progress can be a force for good, but it also demands greater stewardship and ethical responsibility. In countries such as Pakistan, access to AI increasingly belongs to those who can afford the necessary devices, internet connectivity and educational opportunities required to use these tools effectively. As a result, AI has the potential not only to create new opportunities but also to reinforce existing inequalities and deepen the divide between the haves and the have-nots.

‘The encyclical's reference to the Tower of Babel reminds us that societies become fragmented when people cease to share a common understanding and purpose. Today, those with access to education and advanced technologies are increasingly learning to speak the language of the future, while others remain excluded from the conversation altogether.

‘For people of faith, the Encyclical is a call to stewardship, particularly in developing contexts such as Pakistan. We must heed it and ensure that technological advancement serves human dignity and the common good so that those in lower-income communities are not left behind but are able to share in the benefits of human progress.’

See the Archbishop of Canterbury’s address to the debate in the House of Lords about AI.

See a video of Bishop Stephen Croft speaking in the House of Lords in the United Kingdom about the rise of AI.

See Pope Leo speaking at the launch of his encyclical ‘Magnifica Humanitas’.

Read ‘Magnifica Humanitas’, available in multiple languages.

Read a recent Anglican News article about the Archbishop of Canterbury’s speech in the House of Lords.

Learn more about the Anglican Communion Science Commission.