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Leo XIV's first encyclical, Magnifica humanitas, warns AI must not replace the human person

Published on 25 May 2026, Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical is subtitled 'On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence'. It argues that AI must serve the common good and human dignity and must not concentrate power. Its release date marks the 135th anniversary of Leo XIII's Rerum novarum.

By James Okafor6 min read

St Peter’s Square · Diliff / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Pope Leo: Saints show us 'history shaped by faith'
Vatican2 min read

Pope Leo: Saints show us 'history shaped by faith'

Pope Leo XIV greets participants in the “Holiness in History” Conference organized by Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, taking place at the Pontifical Augustinianum Patristic Institute in Rome. Read all  

Pope at Audience: We must urgently protect families and marriage
Vatican2 min read

Pope at Audience: We must urgently protect families and marriage

At his first Wednesday General Audience after having undergone surgery, Pope Leo XIV thanks everyone for their prayers and reflects on the role of families as the foundation of society, emphasizing the important bond between spouses and the gift of having children. Read all  

Cardinal Parolin: The law must govern AI and eliminate inequalities
Vatican2 min read

Cardinal Parolin: The law must govern AI and eliminate inequalities

The Vatican Secretary of State opens five days of meetings to mark the 150th anniversary of the Faculty of Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and speaks about law and new technologies, drawing from Pope Leo’s encyclical "Magnifica humanitas". Read all  

Church leaders in Jerusalem condemn recent attacks in Taybeh
Vatican2 min read

Church leaders in Jerusalem condemn recent attacks in Taybeh

The patriarchs and heads of Churches in Jerusalem issue a statement firmly condemning the “heinous attack” carried out on Saturday, October 17, by “masked settlers” in the Christian village of Taybeh. Read all  

Pope Leo XIV Today

October 27, 2026

Location
Vatican City
Current activity
Ordinary audiences at the Vatican; weekly catechesis on the Second Vatican Council's constitution on the liturgy
Next scheduled event
General Audience
Next Angelus
Sunday Angelus
Next General Audience
General Audience
View today’s schedule →

Updated October 27, 2026 at 10:18 AM UTC

Upcoming schedule

Full calendar →
25
Sept
Travel06:00 · Rome Fiumicino Airport

Apostolic Journey to France — departure

Start of the apostolic journey to France (25–28 September 2026), announced by the Holy See Press Office on 7 August 2026.

September 25, 2026

26
Sept
Speech09:00 · UNESCO headquarters, Paris, France

Address at the headquarters of UNESCO, Paris

Confirmed element of the France journey. Exact date and time to be published in the official programme.

September 26, 2026

28
Oct
Audience08:00 · St Peter's Square, Vatican

General Audience

The pope's weekly Wednesday catechesis, with greetings to pilgrim groups. Held in St Peter's Square, or the Paul VI Hall in poor weather.

October 28, 2026

1
Nov
Angelus11:00 · Apostolic Palace window, St Peter's Square, Vatican

Sunday Angelus

Midday Marian prayer and a short reflection on the Sunday Gospel from the window of the Apostolic Palace, usually followed by appeals on current affairs.

November 1, 2026

What Pope Leo XIV says about…

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the family… the first school of humanity
Vatican

Warning Catholic legislators that artificial intelligence must never be allowed to erode the family.

aifamilytechnology
From this speech →

Source: Vatican News

To sanctify Sunday, it is essential to celebrate the Eucharist.
St Peter's Basilica, Vatican

General Audience catechesis on the liturgy, urging Catholics not to replace Sunday Mass with virtual participation.

faithfamily
From this speech →

Source: Vatican.va (Holy See), OSV News

the developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour
Synod Hall, Vatican

Explaining, to the College of Cardinals, why he chose the name Leo — in continuity with Leo XIII and Rerum novarum.

aitechnologyeconomy
From this speech →

Source: Vatican.va (Holy See), Vatican News

Timeline

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A structured chronology of the life and pontificate of Pope Leo XIV — from Chicago and Peru to the conclave and beyond. Filter by life, Peru, Vatican, pontificate, travels and documents.

Explore the full timeline →
  1. Pontificate

    France journey announced

    The Holy See Press Office announces an apostolic journey to France on 25–28 September 2026, including a visit to UNESCO headquarters.

  2. Travels

    Apostolic journey to Spain

    Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands; Corpus Christi, the completion of the Sagrada Família's central tower, the Gaudí centenary, and migration.

  3. Documents

    First encyclical: Magnifica humanitas

    'On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence', dated to the 135th anniversary of Rerum novarum.

  4. Travels

    Apostolic journey to Africa

    Visits Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea; includes the Basilica of St Augustine in Annaba.

  5. Travels

    Day visit to Monaco

    A one-day apostolic visit focused on diplomatic ties.

Questions people ask

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About Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago in 1955, is the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, elected on 8 May 2025. He is the first pope born in the United States and a naturalised citizen of Peru, where he served for decades as an Augustinian missionary and as Bishop of Chiclayo. Read the full profile in Who is Pope Leo XIV?

Latest Pope Leo XIV news

LeoPope publishes independent reporting and explainers on the pontificate, built on primary Vatican texts and established news agencies. Browse the news archive or subscribe to The Leo Brief.

Pope Leo XIV speeches and statements

Our speeches database catalogues homilies, Angelus addresses, general audiences, messages and formal addresses, each with a summary, key points, verified quotes and links to the primary source.

Pope Leo XIV travels

The travel section tracks apostolic journeys with interactive maps, full programmes, related speeches and practical information. See countries visited and upcoming trips.

Knowledge base

Beyond the news, LeoPope maintains a structured record: a timeline, a pontificate tracker, topic pages, a quotes collection, and entity pages for people and places.

Frequently asked questions about Pope Leo XIV

Short answers below; full answers on the individual pages.

Frequently asked questions about Pope Leo XIV

Who is Pope Leo XIV?

Pope Leo XIV is the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, elected on 8 May 2025. Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago in 1955, he is the first US-born pope, an Augustinian friar who spent decades in Peru as a missionary and Bishop of Chiclayo, and previously led the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops.

How old is Pope Leo XIV?

Pope Leo XIV was born on 14 September 1955 in Chicago. He turns 71 on 14 September 2026, and is 70 for most of that year. He was 69 at the time of his election on 8 May 2025.

Where was Pope Leo XIV born?

Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States, on 14 September 1955. He is the first pope born in the United States. He also holds Peruvian citizenship, which he acquired in 2015.

Is Pope Leo XIV American?

Yes. Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago and is the first US-born pope. He is also a naturalised citizen of Peru, where he spent much of his ministry, so he holds both American and Peruvian citizenship.

Why did Pope Leo choose the name Leo XIV?

He told the cardinals on 10 May 2025 that he chose 'Leo' after Pope Leo XIII, whose 1891 encyclical Rerum novarum addressed the social crisis of the industrial revolution. Leo XIV casts artificial intelligence and automation as a comparable challenge to human dignity and work.

Does Pope Leo XIV speak Spanish?

Yes. Pope Leo XIV is fluent in Spanish after decades living and working in Peru, and often uses it publicly. He also speaks English, Italian, French and Portuguese, and reads Latin and German.

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