What Is a Papal Encyclical? A Simple Guide to Pope Leo XIV’s New Letter on AI

There has been a lot of buzz about the pope’s newest encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity) On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence, and its timely content. With all this talk about the pope’s latest communication, if you found yourself searching “what is a papal encyclical?” or “why does the pope write encyclicals?” you’re not alone. Encyclicals are one of the ways that the pope helps Catholics and non-Catholics around the world think through the major questions of life. Pope Leo XIV’s new encyclical on AI continues that tradition, offering guidance for a modern issue that is already shaping daily life, work, education, communication, and more.

What Is a Papal Encyclical?

A papal encyclical is a formal letter from the pope that offers teaching, reflection, and guidance on important issues facing the Church and the world. The term “letter” can be a little misleading though, as it’s normal to think of a letter as something that’s only a page or two long. In contrast, papal encyclicals are often quite extensive. For example, Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical on AI, Magnifica Humanitas, is 48 pages long.

Encyclicals are usually addressed to bishops, clergy, Catholics, and sometimes “all people of good will,” especially when the topic pertains to all of society. They are usually written or published whenever a major new technology, challenge, or social change occurs around the world.

Why Do Papal Encyclicals Matter?

Encyclicals help Catholics understand how their faith connects to real-world questions and events. They often tackle topics like work, justice, the environment, technology, peace, family, and human dignity. When current events raise major moral questions, a pope often releases an encyclical.

To illustrate this, Pope Leo mentions in the Magnifica Humanitas that “We must ask God for the wisdom to interpret the great trends of our time, particularly technological advances.”

The Catholic faith is ever relevant and not just about events that happened thousands of years ago. Modern Catholics are constantly faced with the need to apply the teachings of their faith to the everyday happenings and decisions in their lives. Papal encyclicals aid in this endeavor by providing official guidance and teaching.

At his address during the 2025 Jubilee of the World of Communications, Pope Francis said, “Free, responsible and correct information is a legacy of knowledge, experience and virtue that must be preserved and promoted.” That same spirit helps explain why encyclicals matter: they invite Catholics to stay informed, think deeply, and respond to daily life through the lens of the faith.

Pope Leo XIV’s New Encyclical on Artificial Intelligence

Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, is focused on safeguarding the human person in the age of artificial intelligence. The official encyclical was signed on May 15, 2026, on the 135th anniversary of a previous pope, Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical, Rerum Novarum, which addressed the condition of the working class globally during the Industrial Revolution.

In Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV states that technology must serve human dignity, truth, work, justice, and peace. The Vatican News summarizes the encyclical as an appeal that AI serve humanity rather than concentrate power.

To be clear, inside the encyclical, Pope Leo XIV is not “against AI.” But instead, the pope challenges the world to use emerging technology to better our relationships with each other, improve the conditions people live in, and use it as a tool for positive outcomes. He warns against using AI and other technological advancements as a replacement for personal conscience and relationship with God, dehumanizing applications, and the abuse of power that rapid tech growth can inspire.

To read Magnifica Humanitas, visit the Vatican website. For an audio version, the English editorial team of Vatican Radio from Vatican News has published an audiobook for free online.

A Few Important Encyclicals to Know

There have been around 300 papal encyclicals since the term was formalized in 1740 by Pope Benedict XIV with his encyclical, Ubi Primum. Below is a list of some of the most notable encyclicals of recent times that deal with more recent world issues:

• 1981: Rerum Novarum (Of New Things) On the Condition of Labor — Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical on labor, workers’ rights, and social responsibility during the industrial revolution. It established modern Catholic social teaching.
• 1963: Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) On Establishing Universal Peace in Truth, Justice, Charity, and Liberty — St. John XXIII’s encyclical on peace. Written during the Cold War, this was the first encyclical addressing not just Catholics but the entire world. It focuses on world peace and nuclear disarmament as well as the rights and dignity of every human person.
• 1968: Humanae Vitae (Of Human Life) On the Regulation of Birth — St. Paul VI’s encyclical on human life and marriage. It teaches on the sanctity of marriage, responsible parenthood, and what birth regulations are acceptable and which are unacceptable in Catholicism.
• 2015: Laudato Si (Praise be to You) On Care for Our Common Home — Pope Francis’ encyclical outlines the global human responsibility to care for the Earth and how, by doing so, we care for each other.
  
  

How Should Catholics Read an Encyclical?

Those who choose to read papal encyclicals do not have to understand every single theological term inside them right away. They can start with summaries, read key sections, and ask: What is the pope teaching about human dignity? What issue is he responding to? How does this connect to daily life?

People should read papal encyclicals because they help connect Catholic teachings to the real questions they face every day. They offer a faithful way to think about complex issues and modern problems rather than leaving Catholics to sort through those topics alone. The guidance found inside the papal encyclicals helps readers to better understand both the Catholic faith as well as the world around them.

Ways to Share Pope XIV’s Encyclical at Your Catholic Church

Members of the parish staff may already be planning ways to help parishioners understand the most recent pope’s teachings on AI and technology. Here are a few ideas for helping your Catholic community understand Magnifica Humanitas.

• Post excerpts every week in the parish bulletin for a few months. If you publish your bulletin with LPi, you already have exclusive access to copyright-free images of Pope Leo XIV through WeCreate, the library of Catholic graphics and content included with LPi’s bulletin service. These images would go perfectly with an excerpt from the pope’s encyclical.
• Share thoughts from your pastor about the encyclical or snippets of it on your parish’s social media platforms.
• During your Mass announcements, include a few takeaways from your pastor, deacon, or another parish leader that they can share after they read it.
• Small group discussions are always a fantastic way to dive deeper into a Catholic teaching. This group reading guide, published by Twenty-Third Publications, might be a good way to get started!
  
  

As artificial intelligence and other modern technologies reshape our world, Magnifica Humanitas offers a timely invitation to reflect on what it means to be human, to protect human dignity, and to ensure that innovation serves the common good. No matter how you choose to read it and share it, may your experience of Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical bring you closer to God and help you grow deeper in your Catholic faith.