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May 28, 2026
The Diocese of East Anglia has welcomed Magnifica humanitas, the first social encyclical of Pope Leo XIV, describing it as a significant contribution to the Church’s teaching on human dignity, work and the ethical use of artificial intelligence.
Published on 25 May, the encyclical reflects on the profound opportunities and risks presented by rapidly advancing technologies, insisting that AI must remain at the service of the human person and the common good. The document also highlights the importance of Catholic Social Teaching in guiding moral discernment during a time of major social and economic change.
Bishop Peter said:
“Pope Leo is reminding the entire world that the magnificence of our humanity is to be cherished and defended, for human life constitutes the first and fundamental gift bestowed by God. The gift of life is for the living but in accordance with those objective and abiding principles that enable to build integrity within and between our personal and social spheres, to flourish across the vast expanse of our spiritual and material experiences. The Holy Father is asking us all to reflect well on the true nature and value of human work as we face the new opportunities and challenges presented by Artificial Intelligence.”
The publication of Magnifica humanitas follows increasing engagement within the Church on the implications of artificial intelligence. Earlier this year, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales gathered at Villa Palazzola to reflect on these issues, including a keynote address from Matthew Harvey Sanders, chief executive of Longbeard.
Some commentators have pointed to the positive potential of emerging technologies when they are well governed and ethically directed. Mr Sanders said:
“The right use of AI technology, rightly ordered, isn’t the end of work. It’s the end of toil. It’s the first chance, at scale, in human history, for men and women to work for love rather than for survival.”
At the same time, Magnifica humanitas underscores that such outcomes depend on careful discernment and responsible stewardship. The Holy Father warns against systems that may diminish responsibility, deepen inequality or weaken authentic human relationships, emphasising that technological progress must always be judged in the light of the human person and the common good.
Within the Diocese of East Anglia, the themes of the encyclical resonate strongly with lived experience. David Livesey, Administrator of Caritas East Anglia, said:
“In the diocese many people have precarious jobs in which they toil without the opportunity to flourish, for which they are paid insufficient wages to cover the cost of the essentials of living.”
He added that others are already helping to shape the technological future:
“Others are blessed with roles that are helping to develop and shape the future of AI and its implementation, which will determine its consequences for humanity.”
The encyclical also echoes the Holy Father’s call for a responsible and discerning use of technology, particularly among young people. Bishop Peter said:
“Our young people must be properly equipped for their fruitful engagement with AI and guarded against all potential manipulations and distorting influences presented by such powerful technologies. We must all ensure that our young people receive a sound and effective ethical formation so that they can navigate new horizons safely and productively. At home, at school and within all other societal environments our young people must be supported in this complex undertaking. The Holy Father recently offered very pertinent guidance to the younger generation when he said: ‘Do not let the algorithm write your story. Be the authors. Use technology wisely, but do not let technology use you.’ We will all do well to head these words.”
To support reflection on Magnifica humanitas, the Centre for Catholic Social Thought and Practice is hosting a webinar on Thursday 4 June from 5.00pm to 6.15pm (BST), exploring the encyclical’s themes with contributions from Dr Samuel Tranter, Professor Meghan J Clark and Dr Nicholas Hayes-Mota, chaired by Professor Anna Rowlands.
The Diocese of East Anglia encourages clergy, educators and parishioners to engage with the encyclical and the wider conversation it has prompted, as the Church seeks to respond faithfully to both the promise and the challenges of an increasingly technological age.
