Pope’s AI encyclical endorses shareholder governance as technology fails neutrality
A new papal document argues that artificial intelligence is a commercial product concentrated in the hands of a few, validating the work of investors managing over $400 billion in assets who are demanding transparency and accountability from major technology firms.
Pope Leo XIV has released an encyclical titled Magnifica Humanitas, a document that urges technologists and policymakers to recognise that technology is not neutral. Authored by Father Séamus Finn, OMI, and Sister Susan Francois, the text frames the current era as a critical choice between the destructive ambition of the Tower of Babel and the collaborative rebuilding of common humanity. The authors assert that AI is a commercial product emerging during a period where excessive power has amassed in the hands of a small number of entities.
The encyclical explicitly links moral imperatives to corporate governance, arguing that the document ratifies ongoing efforts by institutional investors rather than breaking new ground. It cites the work of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, which represents investors managing over $400 billion in assets. The text notes that when governments fail to meaningfully regulate and corporations cannot be trusted to act beyond their bottom line, shareholders have the duty to set society on the right path.
Specific examples of shareholder activism are cited, including resolutions filed against Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Palantir, Uber, CVS, UnitedHealth Group, Meta, Microsoft, Disney, Netflix, and Warner Bros. These resolutions demand transparency, risk assessment, and accountability around AI deployment. Investors have challenged executives to ensure AI is not used to undermine patient well-being, to address the environmental impact of data centres, and to defend the human element in creative industries.
The importance of this governance aspect was highlighted in the document through the tragic example of the opening hours of the war against Iran. The authors note that AI was used to help identify targets for thousands of missile strikes that killed hundreds of people, serving as a stark illustration of the consequences of unchecked technological misuse. The text argues that it is wrong to use technology to kill, harm, or oppress people.
With OpenAI, Anthropic, and Grok set to enter public markets, the authors suggest future opportunities for shareholder influence over what are currently privately held entities. The encyclical references Stanford’s 2026 AI Index, describing the current state of AI development as sprinting. The document concludes by calling for courage and solidarity, urging people of good will to come together to build a future that honours shared humanity.
