The Vatican & Pope Leo XIV just published an encyclical letter titled “Magnifica Humanitas” (Latin, magnificent humanity), sub-titled “on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence” (AI). It is divided into 5 chapters, with 245 paragraphs, and 225 citations/references. Here are some quotes from the document.
Humanity, created by God in all its grandeur, is today facing a pivotal choice: either to construct a new Tower of Babel or to build the city in which God & humanity dwell together. Each generation inherits the task of shaping its own era, of guiding history to become a place where the dignity of every person is safeguarded, justice is promoted & fraternity is made possible.
Technology should not be considered, in itself, as a force antagonistic to humanity. On the contrary, it has formed part of our history since the beginning as “a profoundly human reality, linked to the autonomy and freedom of man.” … The power & prevalence of emerging technologies are interwoven into the fabric of daily life, shaping decision-making processes & deeply affecting the collective imagination … New technologies open up a horizon extending in directions that are imaginable but not yet fully predictable. This complicates the assessment of their potential impact & the long-term effects they may have on both the dignity of individuals and the common good.
It now falls to us to face the challenges of our time with clarity of thought & responsibility. It is necessary to establish adequate regulatory tools capable of upholding justice & curbing the distorting effects of technological power … we must realistically ask ourselves who holds this power today & how they use it … For this reason it is necessary to begin a shared discernment process for identifying the spiritual & cultural roots of ongoing transformation … crucial questions impose themselves on our conscience & can no longer be avoided: Where are we going? Toward what goal do we wish to orient ourselves? What direction should we choose as a people and as a human community?
More thoughts & reflections later.
https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html
