Magnifica Humanitas : The Catholic Church’s roadmap for ethically ordering artificial intelligence, protecting and caring for the person, and saving human dignity in the face of technocratic totalitarianism.

Technology is advancing at an exponential rate, sweeping away the old structures of the world. Where are we headed? Are we building a fairer future or a new, uncontrollable Tower of Babel driven by algorithms?

Yesterday saw the publication of one of the most anticipated and surprising documents of the Church in the modern era:  Magnifica Humanitas , the first encyclical by  Pope Leo XIV  dedicated entirely to the impact of Artificial Intelligence. At nearly 120 pages, this text is not only a doctrinal guide for Catholics; it is an anthropological and ethical manifesto addressed to all humanity, believers and non-believers alike.

To break down the aspects of this historical text, the lawyer, urban planner and transhumanism researcher,  Albert Cortina , analyzed in the program  Les Claus del Dia  de Ràdio Estel the key points of a document that promises to change the rules of the game between human beings and artificial intelligence.

Two paths: the City of God or the “Cyber-Leviathan”

The encyclical begins with a profound Augustinian root that poses an existential dilemma for the 21st century: humanity has two paths before it.

• The City of Man (Babel):  The path from blind optimism to the “technoligarchs” of Silicon Valley. A path that seeks to build a centralized and absolute technocratic power that, emulating the biblical myth, aims to reach heaven by defying the very limits of human nature.
• The City of God (Jerusalem):  A path guided by the pillars of the social doctrine of the Church: solidarity, subsidiarity and the unwavering defense of human dignity.

“It’s not a technophobic view. The Church is not against progress or science. But neither does it fall into the idolatry of unregulated and unlimited technology that some digital libertarians advocate,” Cortina clarifies.

The Pope’s “gesture” towards Silicon Valley

One of the biggest surprises of the day was the presentation itself at the Vatican. Breaking with tradition, Pope Leo XIV appeared accompanied by  Christopher Olaf , one of the founders of the AI ​​firm  Anthropic .

This move is a clear nod from the Pope to the technology sector. It demonstrates that Artificial Intelligence is a “genie that has already left the bottle” and cannot be ignored, but it can be reined in if its creators themselves assume an ethical responsibility oriented toward the common good.

The major dangers: Simulation and the “discarding” of jobs

Leo XIV does not downplay the existential risks of this technological revolution, comparable in its impact to the nuclear age. The text addresses two latent threats in a very specific way:

1. Losing face, voice, and presence

The Pope is deeply concerned about  simulation . The danger is that we will not only believe that AI truly thinks (when it only simulates), but that it will end up replacing human presence, the face and the voice, which are the “reflection of the spirit and the soul.”

2. Wild automation and the throwaway culture

Updating the historical dilemma between labor and capital that Leo XIII already addressed in the 19th century with  Rerum Novarum , the encyclical denounces automation that destroys jobs and condemns workers to obsolescence.

AI is not morally neutral

In response to those who defend the neutrality of algorithms, the encyclical reminds us that AI is not neutral.  We humans are the moral agents ; we program it and decide its limits. The great risk today is surrendering our power to decide under the false premise that machines are “more efficient” in the operating room, in the media, or in classrooms.

As a recipe for everyday life, Albert Cortina emphasizes the  principle of prudence and awareness .  “AI is like a car: an extremely useful tool, but if you’re going 200 km/h, disaster is guaranteed. It can help, but it will never replace . “

In a world often mired in pessimism and uncertainty about the technological future,  Magnífica Humanitas  emerges not as an “apocalyptic prophecy,” but as a luminous  message of hope . An invitation to remember that humanity and its capacity for thought remain radically magnificent.

For more information, don’t miss  Quo vadis, humanitas?