Pope Leo XIV published his first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas," which addresses the role of artificial intelligence in warfare. In the document, the Pope states that the 'just war' theory is now outdated and writes that it is not permissible to entrust lethal or otherwise irreversible decisions to artificial systems. He further asserts that no algorithm can make war morally acceptable and warns that AI can bring about conflict more quickly and render it more impersonal.

Following the release of the encyclical, Craig Douglas Albert published a commentary titled "A Catholic Security Scholar's Case for Responsible Military AI" on July 6, 2026. Albert, a professor and director of the graduate programs in intelligence and security studies at Augusta University, has been Catholic for over 20 years. In his commentary, Albert stated, "I am not an AI evangelist and share the view that there are serious risks to integrating AI into armed conflict." He also stated that human oversight ought to always remain present in military operations.

Why It Matters

The issuance of "Magnifica Humanitas" by Pope Leo XIV represents a religious statement regarding the ethics of artificial intelligence in warfare, directly challenging the continued relevance of the 'just war' theory in the context of modern military technology. The encyclical's specific rejection of AI systems making lethal decisions establishes a theological framework for debates surrounding autonomous weapons. Albert's subsequent commentary provides an academic and Catholic perspective on the Pope's stance, advocating for continued human oversight in military actions involving AI.