Vatican Intelligence

9 June 2026

Timing is often crucial for blogs. About ten days after I produced this post full of links to navigating the biggest technological issue of our day (AI), the Pope weighed in.

There are a few things us Protestants should learn here. Encyclicals are pastoral letters with theological reflection on the issues of the day. They provide guidance, wisdom, questions that are aimed at helping followers navigate these big topics.

In a world with an excess of individual opinion and often polemical statements and affirmations, we would benefit from weighty theological but pastoral reflection. In other words we need more, not less, teaching.

THE PAPAL LETTER

MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS ON SAFEGUARDING THE HUMAN PERSON IN THE TIME OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

That Pope Leo XIV chose AI as the topic for his first letter makes it a big deal. That the words ‘safeguarding the human person’ is in the title suggests strongly that there is a threat/danger here to pay attention to.

THE RESPONSES

You may not have the time to read a long document from the Vatican but fortunately for us there are people who do!

Idols of the Valley -Pope Leo’s wise but frustrating first missive on AI. “I wanted the Pope to have much more to say about idolatry than he ultimately did.” – Yuval Levin (Jewish perspective)
What Is Magnifica Humanitas All About? A Protestant appraisal of Pope Leo XIV’s Encyclical on AI. “From this vantage point, Magnifica Humanitas uses the biblical imagery of two cities: Babel and Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s time, when the walls were yet to be rebuilt. The former shows what happens when we advance too far without regard for humility; the latter shows how each family must come together to build the wall.” – Wyatt Graham (Protestant perspective)
In an Age of AI, a New Christian Apologetic for Our Humanity – Considering Magnifica Humanitas as part of a new Christian apologetics for our time. “The idea that only a Christian theological framework can make sense of our humanness – that is, our imago dei – is now one of the most powerful Christian arguments for the truth of the Christian faith.” – Daniel Williams.
Trojan Horses and Magnifica Humanitas. – Nadya Williams
The Challenge and the Hope of Magnifica Humanitas “The purpose of Magnifica Humanitas is neither to fully condone nor fully condemn artificial intelligence, robotics, and other developing technologies.” – Amy Mantravardi
The Pope vs. Silicon Valley – “The AI industry is suffused with a religious fervor. As Elizabeth Lopatto recently pointed out, they’ve stopped trying to build useful products and are focusing instead on “inventing the future.” This puts these companies in the dual role of priest and prophet, frantically trying to appease the digital deity they imagine they’ve summoned, all the while warning the masses of its impending holy wrath.” – Cal Newport
The first papal encyclical on AI is also the first papal encyclical substantially by AI. Maybe.