‘AI must be disarmed’: Pope Leo issues powerful warning in first Encyclical, says ‘no algorithm can make war moral’

Pope Leo XIV has released the first major teaching document of his papacy, sending a strong warning to the world that artificial intelligence must be “disarmed” before it causes deeper harm to society.

He acknowledged the weight of his words. “The word is strong, I know, but deliberately chosen because this moment needs words capable of attracting attention,” he said. The document is an encyclical, traditionally written for Catholic bishops. But in modern times, it has become a message aimed far beyond the Church, speaking to governments, companies, and ordinary people around the world.