By: Nabila Feroz Bhatti
Magnifica Humanitas is receiving extensive praise internationally for its contemplation of the new moral and social implications of artificial intelligence (AI) in our techno-centric world. As a human rights activist, I too was interested to see how this encyclical could affect humans and life. It was a stimulating read, leaving me with abundance of notes.
His Holiness, Pope Leo’s first encyclical, Magnicifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in a Time of Artificial Intelligence was released by Holy See on May 25, 2026 with approximately 42,000 words making 245 numbered paragraphs. After the Introduction, the first two chapters provide scriptural and historical context, establishing continuity with long arc of Catholic Social Teaching. Although chapters three through five address the heart of Pope’s concerns, he excessively references previous encyclicals and Catholic social doctrine.
There are several strong themes in Pope Leo’s encyclical that support the protection and inclusion of marginalized, vulnerable and poor. Although the document is about AI, it consistently argues that technological progress must be looked into by its impact on those who are most at risk. Pope speaks loudly about the dignity of person, promotion of justice and possibility of fraternity. In the introduction he states that in this age of AI, when human dignity is threatened by new forms of dehumanization, it is our duty to remain profoundly human. Disinformation did not begin with AI, yet today it finds a powerful amplifier in AI. The ability to manipulate content, images and videos exposes people to biased or misleading perspectives.
The Pope does not oppose knowledge and technology, he submits that innovations can serve human development and care of world. He encourages the Church and world not to be afraid of the present challenges, but to listen to one another and firmly embrace their responsibilities in building a more humane and fraternal society. However, if power of AI and technology is in the hands of few, it increases the risk of unfair developments that enhance dependencies, exclusions, manipulations and inequalities. He states, “the use of AI is never a purely technical matter: when it enters processes that affect people’s lives, it touches on rights, opportunities, status and freedom. Important and sensitive decisions — concerning employment, credit, access to public services or even a person’s reputation — risk being fully delegated to automated systems”.
Yet precisely because of the power of technology and AI, it requires a new spiritual, ethical and political framework. The Pope cautions that ethical frameworks involved should be according to shared standards of social justice, otherwise those who control AI will impose their own values. The true measure of artificial intelligence is not its efficiency or power, but whether it safeguards the dignity, rights, and participation of the poorest and most vulnerable members of the human family.
Today, the convergence of automation, robotics and AI is rapidly transforming the structure of work. Advance societies are mechanizing chaotically, reducing the need for labour which is raising unemployment and institutional friction. The encyclical emphasizes that technological innovation must never sacrifice workers for profit. AI should enhance human work rather than replace people without regard for their livelihoods, especially those with fewer economic opportunities. Pope is concerned about labour rights and speaks high of Labour Unions which the Church has consistently supported. He calls upon unions to be open to new forms of employment and the corresponding needs of workers, in order to represent and protect them. Innovation should not become an accelerator of injustice. Labour policies need to promote continuity and quality of employment, countering insecurity. It is essential to invest in accessible education and retraining, so that the professional adoptability demanded by the digital economy cannot be a hindrance for workers.
Discussing about free market the pope reiterates Pope Francis, “a just society requires a vigilant State and civil institutions that are capable of overcoming the singular mentality of efficiency, and of ensuring that resources, creative solutions and regulations favour the most vulnerable”. The encyclical insists that every person possesses an inalienable dignity that cannot be measured only by productivity, efficiency, or technological usefulness. AI must always remain at the service of the human person, especially those whose dignity can be most easily overlooked.
More than ever, in the age of AI and robotics, it is no longer possible to rely solely on free market. Politics has the task of orientating economies and technologies to the common good, promoting dignified work, social inclusion and an equitable distribution of the benefits of innovation and wealth. Since many economic decisions transcend national borders, there is also a need for international cooperation capable of defining common strategies, especially in favor of the most vulnerable countries and people, in order to promote development.
Today, scientific and technological advances, even in the medical field, are not accessible to the poor. The encyclical explicitly states that digital infrastructures and algorithms should be evaluated according to whether they: protect the vulnerable, promote participation, ensure fair access to opportunities, and serve the common good rather than private interests. So, Pope focuses on access to the benefits of innovation, including care, knowledge, tools and opportunities righteously. Just laws and methods of redistribution are necessary for rectifying inequality.
War is always more destructive for marginalized while influential gain more power and earn money. In time of growing technology and AI, there are hybrid forms like cyberattacks, information manipulation, campaigns of influence and the automation of strategic decisions additional to conventional warfare. These hybrid forms can destabilize countries even before open armed conflict erupt, so, Pope emphasizes that diplomacy must be capable of operating effectively in this new environment, negotiating shared regulations on the use of digital technologies, to protect vulnerable.
Speaking on the vulnerability of minors, the Pope directs our attention to online practices like grooming, blackmailing and the sexual exploitation. Using a mobile device in early age without adult’s supervision can intensify young people’s vulnerabilities. The Pope recommends we first educate ourselves on how to interact with technology in a human-centric way. Through strong community partnerships, we must patiently guide the next generation. We must teach children that proper use of technology helps them avoid online risks and preserve their dignity. Technology must not dictate our future, we should shape it.
The Pope speaks about how AI would enhance the environmental crises which effects the marginalized individuals and poor countries more. So, it is essential to develop more sustainable technological solutions that reduce environmental impact and help protect the world.
To build the civilization of love and peace in this AI era, Pope proposes five paths: “the need to disarm words, building peace through justice, adopting the perspective of victims, cultivating a healthy realism and reviving dialogue and multilateralism”.
The encyclical aligns with the International Human Rights Mechanism and talks about the common good of this world. The wealthy technology companies and states have greater responsibility to meet the challenges of modern technology and AI in a way that it should be safer for the marginalized. The governments and public institutions have a duty to establish legal safeguards, independent oversight, and democratic accountability to prevent vulnerable communities from being exploited or excluded.
As a Pakistani human rights activist, I can relate with the cautionary tone of this encyclical. I illustrate its implications in Pakistan with two anecdotes. First, although Karachi, the biggest city of Pakistan, already faces a shortage of water, the Gul Ahmed Energy Group announced construction of Pakistan’s largest data center in Karachi. Data centers need lots of water to keep cool, so building these may enhance the water crises in Pakistan. It falls to the government and utility companies to prevent harms.
Second, according to Situation Analysis of ‘National Commission on the Rights of Child’ Pakistani children are targeted by online predators, subjected to cyberbullying, and blackmailed through extortion and leaked private images. So, we as state, communities and parents need to adopt concrete protective measures.
Nabila Feroz Bhatti is a human rights activist and columnist. She can be connected at [email protected] or on X: @NabilaFBhatti