Pope Leo XIV to Release AI-Focused Encyclical Monday With Anthropic Co-Founder Present

NBC News reported Sunday that Pope Leo XIV will publish his first encyclical Monday, centering the document on protecting human dignity during the rise of artificial intelligence.

Vatican Unveils “Magnifica Humanitas”

The encyclical, titled “Magnifica Humanitas,” will be released in Vatican City alongside a personal papal address. In an unusual addition to the ceremony, Chris Olah, co-founder of AI safety company Anthropic, will attend the unveiling alongside senior Catholic theologians. The document was formally signed on May 15, the 135th anniversary of “Rerum Novarum,” the landmark 1891 social encyclical by Pope Leo XIII.

What the Document Is Expected to Say

Moral theology professor Charles Camosy of the Catholic University of America told NBC News the encyclical will likely do two things at once. It will reaffirm centuries of Catholic teaching while also proposing concrete new responses tailored specifically to AI. Camosy said the very definition of personhood is increasingly contested, and he expects the encyclical to challenge that forcefully. The pope signaled his thinking Friday at a Vatican AI conference, warning that unchecked technology was eroding human relationships and suppressing awareness of what it means to be human.

Background: Leo Has Pushed AI Since Day One

Leo made the issue a priority almost immediately after his election in May 2025. Speaking to the College of Cardinals shortly after taking office, he argued the Church was uniquely positioned to advise on AI’s implications for justice, labor, and human dignity. He also cited Pope Leo XIII as a partial inspiration for his chosen name, drawing a direct line between the industrial revolution’s social disruptions and the current AI moment. Last week, the pope approved a new interdepartmental Vatican commission dedicated to monitoring AI’s effects on people and society.

Also Read: What Is an Encyclical and Why Does It Matter?

Anthropic’s Unusual Role Draws Scrutiny

Anthropic has made deliberate outreach to religious communities a visible part of its strategy. The company hosted multiple gatherings for Christian leaders at its headquarters earlier this year to discuss its AI systems’ development. Anthropic has publicly described its Claude AI as operating under a guiding “constitution” that shapes the system’s character and values. Not everyone is comfortable with that framing. Religious scholar Will Jones told NBC News that most people from Abrahamic faiths would reject the notion that a system like Claude could possess genuine personhood. The presence of a major AI co-founder at a papal encyclical launch is itself drawing questions about optics and influence.

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