Pope Leo XIV personally presented a new encyclical on artificial intelligence, 'Magnifica humanitas,' at a public ceremony at the Vatican, and Anthropic cofounder Christopher Olah attended. The public presentation of the letter and Olah’s presence — unusual because Vatican invitations to tech figures are rare-underscored the Vatican’s effort to engage industry leaders on the moral and governance challenges posed by powerful AI systems.
The encyclical, formally titled 'Magnifica humanitas: on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence,' warns that concentrated power "tends to become opaque and evade public oversight," and calls for "making it human — friendly and restoring it to the plurality of human cultures and ways of life." The text continues a line of papal concern about AI and its social consequences.
Reporting identifies Christopher Olah as an Anthropic cofounder and a billionaire; Olah has described himself as an atheist. His attendance at a high‑profile Vatican moral intervention signaled a deliberate outreach beyond traditional religious circles to figures who help shape AI development. Pairing a religious leader with a prominent AI entrepreneur highlights rising public concern about how powerful AI systems are governed. The encyclical’s push to "free technology from monopolistic control" and open it to public debate may sharpen calls for corporate transparency, broader public oversight, and regulatory discussion as AI adoption expands.
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