Pope Leo XIV has placed artificial intelligence at the center of his first major teaching document, warning of potential risks to human dignity, jobs, social justice, and the environment. At the same time, ties between the Vatican and Anthropic are deepening, with the company’s leaders participating in discussions surrounding the Pope’s new encyclical.

Critics question whether the partnership is truly driven by ethical responsibility. They argue that AI companies may use such relationships to enhance their public image while continuing to rely on automation and energy-intensive infrastructure. Supporters, however, contend that dialogue between religious institutions and technology companies can help shape responsible AI governance, particularly in areas such as labor protections, transparency, and rules governing autonomous weapons.