Upon the publication of his encyclical letterMagnifica HumanitasOn May 25, 2026, Pope Leo XIV has indicated that the church should address artificial intelligence in a manner similar to how Pope Leo XIII dealt with changes during the Industrial Revolution more than a century prior.
Since the initial action of his papacy -choosing his name– the present pope has frequently referenced the 1891 encyclical issued by the previous LeoRerum NovarumThat paper, which entered into the political and economic discussions of its era, criticized the excesses of the Gilded Age and advocated for a more equitable social structure. Now, Leo XIV has utilized his first major declaration to the world to introduce a new Rerum Novarum for the age of artificial intelligence.
Rerum Novarumwas more than merely a religious document. It providedreshape economic policyconcerning workers' rights, it acted as a spiritual basis for European social democracy and the New Deal initiatives of the 1930s that continue to support the economic conditions of working Americans today. It also inspired a group of businesspeople to change the economic system from within.
Grasping its impact is essential to recognizing the significance of Leo XIV's encyclical.
From trade unions to worker collectives during the industrial period
In his time, Leo XIII rejectedboth unregulated capitalism and revolutionary socialism. He referenced themedieval guilds, where artisans formed their own groups and claimed the rights of factory workers to unite. This was a bold declaration during an era when unions frequently encounteredviolent suppression from employers and police.
However, unlike communist activists, he did not seek to eliminate private property. He believed that to unlock the best potential in people, who are created in the image of God, governments should "encourage as many individuals as possible to become owners."
This was more of an idea than a specific strategy, yet Catholics in numerous nations began attempting to understand how the vision could be applied in reality.
The English authors G.K. Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc, for example, attempted to structure his perspective within a movement known as "distributism," which outlined policies for land redistribution and the resurgence of guilds. In the United States, economist and Catholic priest John A. Ryansupported the idea of cooperatives– companies that might be jointly owned by employees, customers, or local business proprietors.
Ryan went on to become aimportant adviserfor the New Deal in the United States, which utilized cooperatives as a significant means of economic growth via farmer co-ops, rural electric associations, and the credit union network.
The essence of Rerum Novarum remained influential. Beginning in the 1950s, the biggest network of worker cooperatives globally, the Mondragon Corporation located in Spain's Basque region, was established by a Catholic priest. It was adirect result of Leo XIII’s encyclical.
My own career has operated under its influence. As a media scholar and a Roman Catholic –and a supporter of initiativesto create collaborative technology platforms – I occasionally consider my own work asapplying Rerum Novarum to the digital economy. With Magnifica Humanitas, the pope seems to be presenting a comparable stance regarding the era of artificial intelligence.
A Story of Two Cities
Once more, civilization is experiencing a period of changeeconomic upheavalNew advancements are transforming the concept of work, political structures are facing challenges, and economic disparity is extreme. In Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV suggests that a response similar to Rerum Novarum is required.
The central metaphor of Magnifica Humanitas is the decision between two biblical images: theTower of Babel and the rebuilding of Jerusalem under the prophet Nehemiah.
The first narrative revolves around the aspiration of a city aiming to construct a single structure reaching the sky. Babel, as Leo XIV mentions in the encyclical, is a city "founded on arrogance and the assertion of self-reliance." According to the biblical story, the endeavor fails when the universal language is divided into numerous distinct ones.
The pope contrasts this with the tale of the Hebrew prophet Nehemiah, who lived in the fifth century B.C.E., during a time when Jews were returning from exile to a destroyed Jerusalem. Nehemiah led the city's reconstruction through a cooperative effort rooted in collective accountability. As they came together in prayer, the different families and professions within the city each contributed their unique touches to the work.
The present AI sector, he claims, is at risk of turning into a modern-day Tower of Babel.A small number of companies have controlThis advanced technology is claimed to be on the verge of changing work, politics, and society for all.
He warns that many Leaders in artificial intelligence are excited about certain beliefs.that suggest exchanging human limitations for the divine abilities of machines.Some are even happily accepting Some are even enthusiastically welcoming Some are even joyfully adopting Some are even willingly embracing Some are even with enthusiasm embracing Some are even gleefully accepting Some are even proudly embracing Some are even with delight embracing Some are even eagerly embracing Some are even with pleasure embracinga society in which human work is no longer the core of the economic system. Leo is also concerned that human decision-making is increasingly distant from the conduct of warfare.
Faced with all this, the encyclical urges individuals across the globe to embrace "the urgent responsibility to remain deeply human" – to not be "bystanders" or "critics," but to play an active part by engaging in what he refers to as "the construction sites of history." Some people are already doing so.
Projects for an alternative type of AI
It's straightforward to view the growing AI industry in Babel-like terms – a handful of large technology companies develop the models and offer access according to their conditions. However, alternative routes remain feasible. My colleagues and Ihave been documentingsituations that might serve as the foundation for a new type of AI sector – one more in line with the pope's vision.
Just as in the Industrial Revolution, a fairer future starts with employees standing up against the injustices of today. FromHollywood to Nairobi, employees have been striving for respect as artificial intelligence transforms their roles. Magnifica Humanitas highlights the significance of fair employment for a thriving community, and the aspirations of workers can help determine the direction of future employment.
Other methods start within the AI development community. In Switzerland, a partnership between government and academic institutions hasproduced Apertus, a fundamental model built on thoroughly documented designs and data sources – a significant contrast to the opaque andoccasionally unlawful activities conducted by top AI corporations. Some of the developers of Apertus havecreated a consumer cooperative, allowing users to jointly own their interface with the model.
This type of cooperative ownership enables users to customize AI experiences more thoughtfully according to their requirements. The major U.S. farmer cooperativeFor instance, Land O’Lakes has developedTools powered by artificial intelligence that offer insights and recommendations to their members using data that they collectively own. The more early-stageTranskribus in Europeis jointly owned by research organizations that collectively teach their AI software to transcribe documents for historical studies. Such systems adhere to Leo XIV's directive to "treat data as a common or shared resource."
It is revealing that even within top AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, the founders tried to createunusual corporate governance structuresto shield their offerings from financial incentives. Authorities might promote more suitable ownership structures or mandate them for sectors with significant risks, such as artificial intelligence.
If Rerum Novarum serves as a reference, the influence of Magnifica Humanitas will rely on innovative business ventures and policy innovations that bring it to life—and this effort has already started.
This piece is reprinted fromThe Conversationa non-profit, independent news organization providing you with facts and reliable analysis to help you understand our complicated world. It was written by:Nathan Schneider, University of Colorado BoulderRead more:
- Your bank's artificial intelligence has just prevented your transaction – what steps can you take?
- Pope Leo XIV: Why the College of Cardinals selected the Chicago native and Augustinian to guide the church following Francis
Nathan Schneider and his laboratory are backed by financial contributions from multiple supporters, with the Siegel Family Endowment being the latest. He serves on the board of Metagov, an organization whose research contributed to this article, and has engaged with several of the groups mentioned here.
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