Throughout two papacies, the Vatican has developed a comprehensive framework for engaging with the subject of artificial intelligence, deeply rooted in traditional Catholic teachings. However, the Holy See has been relatively silent about the potential catastrophic implications of the corporate rush towards AI technologies capable of substituting human roles in work, relationships, and decision-making. As these dangers become more apparent, Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming encyclical could offer not only theological perspectives but also practical guidance for humanity.
The latest Vatican statement on artificial intelligence, produced by the International Theological Commission, explored the themes of transhumanism and posthumanism. Titled Quo Vadis, Humanitas? (Which way, humanity?), this document made its first significant reference to artificial general intelligence (AGI) within the context of Magisterial teaching. It describes AGI as a future, widespread technology that could replace all cognitive and operational facets of human intelligence through extraordinarily rapid computing. The document warns that if certain aspects of human intelligence are intentionally diminished or abandoned, AGI might lead to severe consequences that could escape human oversight.
The ethical and philosophical dilemmas introduced by artificial intelligence extend beyond the current generation of tools. They stem from the ongoing pursuit to create superintelligence. Fr. Paolo Benanti, an AI advisor to Pope Francis and a Franciscan ethicist, has made it clear that humanity should refrain from advancing towards superintelligence. The concept of superintelligence remains contentious, and the Vatican aims to avoid making hasty statements that could later be contradicted by evolving realities. It remains prudent, wary of overly aligning itself with one of the various secular discourses surrounding this technology.
As highlighted in Quo Vadis?, whether viewed as a distant ambition or an impending breakthrough, the prospect of general AI prompts vital inquiries regarding human intelligence's essence, its distinctiveness among living entities, and its unparalleled nature, particularly in terms of moral accountability and its intrinsic openness to transcendence. The challenges posed by AI advocates necessitate more comprehensive answers than they can currently provide. While religious leaders may not offer precise technical definitions or specific forecasts about the technology's timeline, they are equipped to address these more profound human concerns.
Papal encyclicals have historically provided insights into contemporary technological advancements. Pope Leo has alluded to Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum as a guiding influence in choosing his papal name, and many anticipate that this earlier text will shape his forthcoming encyclical. Rerum Novarum and the tradition of Catholic social teaching it established served as a resilient framework for navigating the socio-political complexities of the subsequent century, influencing social democracy as a balanced alternative to both communist upheaval and laissez-faire capitalism.
The Church has also voiced moral objections to other advancing technologies, being one of the first to condemn human cloning as unacceptable. At the dawn of the millennium, the Vatican, alongside other institutions, took decisive action through a series of documents, campaigns, domestic legislation, and non-binding international statements to combat human cloning. Two decades later, the resulting consensus has largely constrained the actions of governments, entrepreneurs, and researchers.
"The risks associated with AI undermining human agency are already evident."
A similar approach could and should be adopted regarding superintelligence. The risks posed by AI undermining human agency are becoming increasingly clear. A recent statement from the U.S. government marked the first official acknowledgment of a civilian fatality due to a fully autonomous weapon, along with alarming reports that an Iranian girls' school was targeted by AI. Since at least 2013, the Church has publicly opposed lethal autonomous weapons and has recently called for a worldwide moratorium on their use.
Moreover, AI has also resulted in fatalities outside traditional conflict zones. The year 2025 could be seen as the period when the full implications of the chatbot revolution began to be understood, with its potential effects on human relationships coming to light. The original Summer of Love in 1967 carried complexities that became apparent over time, and the darker side of the AI revolution bears striking similarities; this time, it is chatbots that may push users towards severe psychological distress and suicidality, rather than the drugs associated with the past.
