US Vice President JD Vance has hailed Pope Leo XIV’s sweeping new manifesto on artificial intelligence, calling the encyclical a powerful act of moral leadership at a time when rapid technological change is reshaping global society.
The encyclical, titled “Magnifica Humanitas” (Magnificent Humanity), was released on Monday by the first US‑born pope, who has frequently clashed with the White House over the Iran war and the use of religious rhetoric to justify conflict. In the document, Pope Leo XIV warns that AI could create “new forms of slavery” and poses profound risks to human dignity.
Speaking to NBC News, Vance said the pope’s message was exactly what he hoped to hear from the leader of the Catholic Church. “What I read of it sounds very profound, and the sort of thing that you would expect and hope from a leader of the church,” he said. Vance added that while moral principles remain constant, their application must evolve as the world changes.
Vance’s praise carries particular weight given his own deep ties to the tech industry. Before entering politics, he worked as a venture capitalist and maintains close relationships with Silicon Valley figures, including Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, one of his most influential supporters.
Despite his admiration for the encyclical, Vance and the Vatican have not always seen eye‑to‑eye. Pope Leo XIV has sharply criticised the administration’s mass‑deportation policies, while Vance who converted to Catholicism in 2019 has defended the government’s approach. Still, the vice president said he was pleased the Chicago‑born pontiff chose the name Leo XIV, a nod to Leo XIII, who famously warned of the social upheaval of the Industrial Age.
Vance argued that the Church’s voice is essential as humanity enters the AI era. “If we make it through this successfully, it will be in large part because the pope and the church are able to provide the kind of moral leadership that we need,” he said. “We really need moral leadership to think through those questions, and that’s exactly what the church is the best leader to do.”
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