Pope Leo XIV Approves Vatican AI Commission Ahead of First Encyclical

Pope Leo XIV approved the creation of a Vatican commission on artificial intelligence on May 16. The commission will coordinate AI activities across seven Vatican institutions and set policies for AI use within the Holy See. The body includes representatives from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Pontifical Academy for Life, and the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

Cardinal Michael Czerny said the commission would help the Roman Curia address AI challenges internally and for the Church and the world.

The Vatican has discussed AI ethics with technology companies for over a decade. Pope Francis addressed the G7 on AI ethics in June 2024, and Vatican representatives met with executives from Google, Microsoft, and Cisco. Internal AI guidelines took effect on January 1, 2025. Those guidelines require disclosure of AI-generated content and ban AI that conflicts with the Church's mission.

XIV will release his first encyclical on May 25. The document, reportedly titled Magnifica Humanitas, will address AI through Catholic social teaching on labor rights, justice, and human dignity. The pope has previously stated that AI must be used responsibly to benefit everyone and must never forget human dignity. In a May 2026 address, he condemned investment in AI and high-tech weaponry.