Pope Leo Fourteenth has created a Vatican study group on artificial intelligence as he prepares to release his first encyclical, expected in the coming weeks. The document is set to frame artificial intelligence within the church's long-standing social teaching, emphasizing human dignity, justice, labor, and peace. The move comes 135 years after Pope Leo Thirteenth issued 'Rerum Novarum,' which addressed workers' rights during the Industrial Revolution and became a foundation of modern Catholic social thought.

The Vatican said the new study group reflects concern about the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and its potential impact on humanity. The pope has warned about risks ranging from misinformation and deepfake imagery to autonomous weapons and the erosion of human decision-making. While acknowledging benefits in health care and scientific discovery, he has stressed that technology must complement, not replace, human intelligence and moral responsibility.

The forthcoming encyclical could heighten tensions with the United States administration, which has prioritized rapid development of artificial intelligence and resisted international regulatory efforts. The Vatican has previously promoted ethical guidelines, supported global governance initiatives, and called for limits on lethal autonomous weapons. Pope Leo has also raised concerns about the environmental costs of data centers and the broader implications of artificial intelligence for truth, peace, and the future of human relationships.