Author : Nayanika Majumdar (Assistant Professor, JGLS)

Article Type - Guest Article


On May 25, 2026, Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical titled ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence. The document is timely and propitious in asking to push back against uncritical adoption of AI. Drawing upon the foundations of the social doctrines of the church the Pope seeks to address the challenges posed by dominance of a technocratic paradigm.  

The Pope draws upon the imagery of Tower of Babel to caution against the ‘Babel Syndrome’ i.e. the pretense that a single language, even if it is digital, can translate everything. In a very astute observation, the Pope remarks that technology is not simply a tool and that control over platforms, does not rest with States, but with major economic and technological actors. Concentration of such power in the hands of few increases the risk of distorted forms of development that giving rise to new dependencies, exclusions, manipulations and inequalities. The Pope further notes that AI can be a valuable tool while cautioning against excessive reliance and the search for ready-made answers which can weaken personal creativity and judgment.  Drawing attention to enormous water and energy usage required by AI Systems, the Pope also calls for development of sustainable technological solutions that reduce environmental impact . This is on the heels of news of AI data centres in America pushing the water systems into a crisis.

The Pope also called upon disarming AI i.e., discrediting the assumption that technical power automatically confers the right to govern. He remarked that AI is already an environment in which we are immersed and thus merely regulating it is insufficient; it must be disarmed, welcoming and accessible. This ties in with the sentiments of using AI in warfare. The Pope, cautioned that the decision to use lethal force cannot be delegated to opaque or automated processes and must remain under responsible human control while necessitating how imperative it is establish a shared framework to curb the technological arms race.

Additionally, in relation to education, the Pope calls for restraint in the use of AI since the speed and ease with which answers can be obtained risk extinguishing the desire to ask questions. He emphasises upon a renewed educational alliance while remarking that schools are not called to follow the pace of the digital world, but to offer what the digital sphere cannot provide that is  a shared time for learning and developing relationships. This discussion is also backed by several studies which warn against dangers of using AI in education and against risk of cognitive surrender in the era of Gen AI.

The 43000 word Encyclical also covers inter alia value of work and human dignity in the time of AI, role of multilateralism and cultivating healthy realism. Mostly importantly, it cautions that while AI systems may present themselves as neutral and objective, they can still end up reflecting and reinforcing the stereotypes or ideological bias of their designers and developers. It also warns against the risks of decisions concerning employment, credit, access to public services  being fully delegated to automated system. It asks for responsibility to be clearly defined at every stage: from those who design and develop these systems to those who use them and rely on them for concrete decisions and reinforces the need for human accountability.

The Pope, in essence, distinguishes between integrating technology within a human-centered, relational vision contrasted with an outlook that devalues human limits. He, through the encyclical, invites everyone to contemplate the grandeur of humanity in the age of artificial intelligence.


(These are the personal views of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the opinion of OP Jindal Global University or its affiliated institutions)