With the publication of Magnifica Humanitas [Magnificent Humanity], Pope Leo XIV has entered one of the most important conversations of our time. Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the way people work, learn, communicate, receive healthcare, and even wage war. Yet the pope’s first encyclical is not fundamentally about technology. It is about humanity.
At a time when the world is captivated by the promise and power of artificial intelligence, Pope Leo asks a simple question: what kind of society are we building, and whom does it serve?
The pope does not condemn artificial intelligence. He acknowledges its potential to improve lives and contribute to human development. What concerns him is the possibility that technological power may become detached from moral responsibility. When a small number of corporations control vast amounts of data, computing power, and digital infrastructure, important questions arise about accountability, justice, and the common good. The issue is not merely what AI can do, but who controls it, who benefits from it, and who may be left behind.
The pope’s reflections echo a long tradition of Catholic social teaching. More than a century ago, Pope Leo XIII responded to the upheavals of the Industrial Revolution through Rerum Novarum, defending the dignity of workers and calling for social justice. Today, Pope Leo XIV sees a similar challenge emerging in the digital revolution. Just as industrialisation transformed labour and society, artificial intelligence is reshaping human relationships, economic structures, and political life. Once again, the Church raises its voice on behalf of human dignity.
For the people of Hong Kong, this message deserves careful attention. As a global financial centre and one of the world’s most technologically connected cities, Hong Kong is embracing artificial intelligence across business, education, healthcare, and public services. Innovation is often welcomed as a sign of progress. Yet Magnifica Humanitas reminds us that progress cannot be measured solely by efficiency, productivity, or technological sophistication.
Ever since its inception, our diocese, which celebrates its 80th anniversary, has focused on the social welfare, education, and healthcare of the people of the city. The encyclical is particularly relevant for us in the areas of education and healthcare, where AI increasingly assists diagnosis, administration, and patient communication. Nevertheless, both education and healing remain deeply human encounters. Patients in our hospitals and students in our schools are not problems to be solved but persons to be accompanied. The quality of care is measured not only by technical excellence but also by empathy, respect, and human presence.
Pope Leo warns against allowing artificial intelligence to assume roles that rightly belong to human moral judgment. As discussions arise about autonomous weapons, algorithmic decision-making, and technology’s increasing influence over daily life, the pope emphasises that humanity must stay in control. Technology should serve people, not rule over them. Pope Leo reminds the world of a timeless truth: humanity, not technology, must stay at the centre. Our challenge is not just to build smarter machines but to become wiser, more compassionate, and more responsible custodians of the future we are shaping. jose, CMF
