Pope Leo XIV Issues AI Encyclical at UN Summit

What did Pope Leo XIV say at the AI for Good Global Summit?

Pope Leo XIV sent a message to the AI for Good Global Summit 2026 on July 8, 2026, calling for open dialogue on artificial intelligence to promote the common good. The message was signed on his behalf by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Cardinal Secretary of State. It was addressed to all participants at the Geneva summit.

The message stated: "The Holy Father would like to assure you of the Holy See's presence and openness to dialogue, especially in this epochal turning point." The Pope expressed his desire to work with "all men and women of our time" to "identify new paths for the common good and for promoting a dignified life for all," according to the Vatican Press Office.

What is the AI for Good Global Summit?

The AI for Good Global Summit is an annual event organized by the United Nations' International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It runs in partnership with other UN agencies and is co-hosted by the Swiss Government. The 2026 edition takes place in Geneva from July 7 to 10. Its goal is to explore how AI is shaping the world and to develop solutions to major global challenges.

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What is Magnifica Humanitas?

Magnifica Humanitas is Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, dedicated to safeguarding the human person in the age of artificial intelligence. He signed it on May 15, 2026. The Holy See formally released it on May 25, 2026. The National Catholic Register reports that the document develops the Church's social teaching on AI, situating questions of human dignity, labor, and the common good within a tradition running from Rerum Novarum through Centesimus Annus and Laudato Si'.

What inspired the encyclical?

The July 8 message explained that Magnifica Humanitas grew from wide listening. The Pope heard from multiple groups before writing it:

• Scientists and engineers who work with enthusiasm on technologies that can alleviate suffering
• Political leaders and public officials who have sought just rules for AI
• Parents and teachers who are deeply concerned for younger generations

At the same time, the encyclical was also driven by what the Vatican called "troubling accounts of the potential misuses of algorithms and by the loss of human agency in critical areas." That phrase comes directly from Pope Leo XIV's address at the encyclical's presentation on May 25, 2026, cited as a footnote in the official summit message.

Here's what we know so far: the Pope's message to Geneva is the first major public application of Magnifica Humanitas to an international AI policy forum.

When was the encyclical signed and released?

What did the Pope ask summit participants to do?

The message closed with a direct appeal. The Pope wished participants "to engage in constructive and enriching discussions" and assured them of his prayers in their efforts "to serve humanity." The message did not outline specific policy proposals, but grounded the appeal in the encyclical's framework of human dignity and the common good.

Questions about AI and copyright and AI governance are also playing out in courts and regulatory bodies beyond the Vatican's reach. The Pope's message positions the Holy See as a voice in those broader conversations. Concerns about AI and intellectual property similarly intersect with the encyclical's warnings about human agency.

The message was delivered as the summit opened in Geneva, with the AI for Good Global Summit running through July 10, 2026.