Pope Leo's Encyclical on Being Human in the Digital Age

"Technological progress — valuable in itself — requires careful discernment of the anthropological vision that guides it and the ends it pursues. If technological development advances without a corresponding ethical and social progress, the result may be an increase in means without a growth in humanity: “having more” without “being more."

On May 25, 2026, the Holy See released Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical: "Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence."

That the Holy Father chose to sign this document on May 15, the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII's encyclical "Rerum Novarum," is no coincidence; both pontiffs wrote encyclicals fearlessly engaging with technological advances that threaten the everyday life, rights, and even the spiritual existence of humanity.

Pope Leo XIV does not directly address the topic of religious vocations specifically, but artificial intelligence (AI) and its effects are ubiquitous by design. Therefore, Serrans may wonder:

· How might AI affect the ability of people to hear, discern, and answer the call to the religious life?

· How might AI affect or already be affecting our priests' ability to authentically distill and preach the Gospel?

· How might AI affect or already be affecting the work of vocation directors? What positives and negatives might there be?

· Could a society built upon systems that ruthlessly pursue the bottom line of profit, efficiency and productivity produce more or fewer consecrated vocations?

The Holy Father calls for missionary hearts and community builders, mature in theology and well-versed in technology, to courageously venture into the as yet unevangelized spaces where algorithms determine a person's worth based on their activity online.

READ POPE LEO XIV'S MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS