Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 encyclical addressing human dignity in the era of artificial intelligence, calling humanity to choose between technological paths: the “Tower of Babel” (dehumanizing, profit-driven) or “Jerusalem” (collaborative, faith-centered).
Central Theme
The encyclical emphasizes that “never has humanity had such power over itself,” requiring urgent discernment about technological development. Technology is neutral but practically shaped by those who control it—and private corporations now wield power surpassing government influence.
Two Paths
Tower of Babel: Technology serving profit and efficiency, sacrificing human dignity, diversity, and the common good. Reduces persons to data and productivity metrics.
Jerusalem: Collaborative reconstruction where God remains central, all voices contribute, and technology serves human flourishing rather than dominating it.
Core Principles
- Human Dignity — persons created in God’s image
- Common Good — technology must benefit all, not concentrate power
- Universal Destination of Goods — resources for all humanity
- Subsidiarity — decisions made at appropriate levels
- Solidarity — interconnected responsibility across generations
Primary Concerns
- Private corporations wielding unprecedented technological power
- Risk of dehumanization through surveillance and data reduction
- Growing inequalities between those included in and excluded from digital transformation
- Loss of linguistic and cultural diversity (echoing Babel’s fragmentation)
Links
- Magnifica Humanitas — Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical on human dignity in the age of AI (May 15, 2026)
- O Papa, Tolkien, e IA — Passos pela Terra-média podcast examining Tolkien’s philosophy in dialogue with the encyclical. Uses Gandalf’s teachings on responsibility and the fall of Númenor as framework for understanding AI and power, advocating “Gandalfian courage” to leave a clean earth for coming generations.