Vatican and Anthropic co-founder to unveil AI encyclical at Synod Hall
Christopher Olah to present document alongside the Pope on 25 May, marking a rare convergence of religious authority and AI research leadership
Pope Leo XIV is set to release his first encyclical, titled *Magnifica humanitas*, on 25 May 2026. The document addresses the preservation of the human person within the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. The encyclical bears the Pope’s signature dated 15 May 2026, a date chosen to coincide with the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s landmark encyclical *Rerum novarum*.
The official presentation will take place at the Vatican’s Synod Hall at 11:30 a.m. on the day of release. In a notable departure from traditional ecclesiastical announcements, Christopher Olah, co-founder of Anthropic and head of research on the interpretability of artificial intelligence, will present the document alongside the Pope. This inclusion highlights the growing intersection between theological ethics and technical AI development.
The event will feature a diverse panel of speakers representing both the Holy See and academic institutions. Participating dignitaries include Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Their presence underscores the Vatican’s focus on doctrinal and social dimensions of the technology.
Academic contributions will be provided by Professor Anna Rowlands, a theologian and professor at Durham University in the United Kingdom, and Professor Leocadie Lushombo, I.T., a professor of political theology and Catholic social thought at the Jesuit School of Theology and Santa Clara University in California. Their involvement signals an effort to ground the encyclical’s themes in broader theological and social discourse.
Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin will deliver closing remarks, followed by an address and blessing from Pope Leo XIV. The structure of the event reflects a coordinated effort to communicate the Church’s stance on AI to a global audience, blending high-level ecclesiastical authority with insights from leading figures in the artificial intelligence sector.
