Magnificent Humanity
Magnificent Humanity
Encyclical of Pope Leo XIV on the protection of the human person in the age of artificial intelligence
Human dignity as a criterion to guide technical progress
Pope Leo XIV, in presenting his first encyclical to the world and to all the people of God, focused on the care of the human person in the age of artificial intelligence, stated: “I invite all members of the Church and of the human family to learn to listen to one another, to face with courage the challenges of our time, and to cooperate in building a more humane and fraternal society. [...] I ask you to commit yourselves to remaining vigilant and, as ‘artisans of hope,’ to continue building the work of our time. May the Spirit of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ sustain our joint efforts.”
The Encyclical in summary
In the age of Artificial Intelligence, humanity faces a dilemma: to be guided by technology and progress as the sole principles for building our civilization, or to prioritize the dignity of the human person, reducing technological progress to a mere instrument. To explain this, Pope Leo XIII uses two biblical images: the construction of the Tower of Babel and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
Choosing the right path requires a DYNAMIC APPROACH (chapter 1), which is guided by the Social Doctrine of the Church, following the teachings of the Second Vatican Council: listening, discerning and interpreting our times in the light of the Gospel, in order to be able to give humanity back the revealed truth, using the terms of the present.
To better understand the new reality of our time in relation to the dignity of the human person, we can turn to the FOUNDATIONS AND PRINCIPLES OF THE SOCIAL DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH (chapter 2). The foundations focus on the human being, the image of the Triune God and, as such, the bearer of inviolable rights and intrinsic dignity, without distinction. The principles are those of the common good, the universal destination of goods, subsidiarity and solidarity, as well as social justice, which, by being the cornerstone of social relations, lead to what Paul VI was the first to summarize in the concept of integral human development.
Thus we arrive at the central point of the topic: the relationship between technology, power, and the human person (Chapter 3). While Pope Leo XIII recognizes the value of technological development as an expression of human creativity, he warns of the risk of it becoming the absolute criterion for judgment. Artificial intelligence, lacking experiences, values, and feelings, cannot and should not assume a role of responsibility and supremacy over human intelligence.
To avoid this danger, it is therefore necessary to safeguard humanity in this transformation (Chapter 4). The first area we must address is truth: in an era where everything can be manipulated, it is essential to preserve a critical education that allows us to distinguish truth from falsehood. The second is work: when efficiency becomes the dominant criterion, work risks losing its human and relational value. The third area is freedom: threatened by digital dependency, which collects enormous amounts of data, defending freedom requires fair standards, shared responsibility, and education. To preserve the conditions for a truly human life, capable of truth, dignified work, and genuine freedom, a collective effort is necessary.
At this point in the Encyclical Letter, Pope Leo XIII reminds us that Artificial Intelligence has effects, often dramatic, even in warfare. Technological innovations are not limited to making defense more efficient, but risk automating and depersonalizing life-and-death decisions, which should require ethical and moral responsibility. This is THE CULTURE OF POWER, which is opposed to THE CIVILIZATION OF LOVE (Chapter 5). Faced with the tendency to prioritize the effectiveness of means over moral judgment and military outcomes over the protection of human life, the only prospect of salvation lies in a civilization founded on justice, fraternity, and dialogue. In the civilization of love, we can all contribute, beginning with prudent reflection, practicing justice, adopting the perspective of victims, and cultivating dialogue, not by taking refuge in idealism, but by relying on sound realism. All these good practices find their vital force in prayer.
The final chapter focuses on the spiritual and theological dimension. Throughout history, God's mercy has placed the mystery of the Incarnation at its center. God became man and taught us true humanity and a preferential option for the most vulnerable. The greatness of humankind lies not in technical power, but in freedom, love, and grace. In an age that breeds exclusion, we are called, as brothers and sisters united in "one body in Christ," to safeguard our bonds, particularly through solidarity and care for the weakest.
Safeguarding humanity in the age of Artificial Intelligence is, therefore, a shared responsibility. The initial image of the opposition between the Tower of Babel and the Holy City resurfaces: which one do we want to help build? If we become “wise architects” and builders faithful to the truth, safeguarding relationships and investing in education, lovers of justice and peace, humanity will not lose its own greatness. It is important, then, not to remain resigned spectators, but rather weavers of hope, with the same faith as Mary, who, in her humility, under foreign domination and with a humiliated and divided people, was able to see the invisible and salvific work of God.
To read the extended summary of the Encyclical, click here. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aVyOGu2f2hoZ6MayVrV9lTVMBMdbLDJC/view