By Mari Eccles
Publication Date: 2026-05-17 12:25:00
The announcement came a day after Pope Leo signed his encyclical, a letter written by the pope and sent to bishops to provide instructions or guidance on moral issues.
His new encyclical, due to be published in the coming weeks, is expected to address the issue of AI within the framework of the church’s social teaching, which also covers topics such as work, justice and peace.
It is not the first time that Pope Leo has dealt with AI issues. Just days after his election in May 2025, he told cardinals that the Catholic Church owes it to the world to make the “treasure of its social teaching” available to address the challenges posed by AI to “human dignity, justice and work.”
In June 2025, Pope Leo criticized the possible negative consequences of increasing AI use. After highlighting AI’s potential for good, the pope said there was a possibility of “abuse for selfish gain” and a way to “incite conflict and aggression.”
“We all are, I’m sure