Just one year into his papacy, Pope Leo XIV in May released his first encyclical, titled Magnifica Humanitas (Wonderful Humanity), with several chapters sparking debate and discussion across the globe.
From Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II to Benedict XVI, Francis and now Leo XIV, every pontiff has a responsibility to guide the Catholic Church and the wider world through theological reflections on the social, environmental, economic, health, technological and geopolitical issues of their time. Beyond their spiritual duties, popes have historically offered moral guidance on contemporary challenges, and Pope Leo XIV has continued that tradition through Magnifica Humanitas.
The document represents a renewed social doctrine of the Church, signifying what Pope Leo describes as “a legacy of wisdom” where people find principles for thought, criteria for discernment and judgment, and concrete guidelines for action.
Unlike Pope Francis’ Laudato Si, which focused primarily on environmental stewardship, Magnifica Humanitas is drawing significant attention for its treatment of artificial intelligence and its growing influence on society. Its message is resonating far beyond the Catholic faithful, reaching technology users across different faiths, races, age groups and social backgrounds.
The central area of contention lies in Chapter Three, which explores technology and human dominance, particularly the grandeur of humanity in light of the promises and challenges presented by artificial intelligence.
Pope Leo himself appeared aware that his comments would generate intense debate. During the release of Magnifica Humanitas, he stated:
“Artificial Intelligence needs to be disarmed. The word is strong, I know, but deliberately chosen, because this moment needs words capable of attracting attention, awakening consciousness and indicating a path forward for humanity.”
He further noted that:
“Artificial intelligence touches many areas of our lives and affects decisions that shape human coexistence, while dramatically changing how war is waged.”
Without fear of contradiction, the first American pontiff is cautioning the world about the growing dominance of artificial intelligence in shaping human affairs.
In Chapter Three, Pope Leo identifies three major concerns regarding personal use of AI: the ease with which results are obtained, the illusion of objectivity, and the simulation of human communication. According to the pontiff, these factors risk making AI increasingly opaque while exerting significant influence over human responses and behaviour.
The Chicago-born pope is boldly drawing attention to a technocratic paradigm shift that is shaping both the present and the future of humanity. This should concern young people more than anyone else because they are the principal stakeholders of the future.
For the first time in human history, the majority of the world's population is below the age of 24, with Africa leading as the continent with the youngest demographic profile. Pope Leo's guidance on artificial intelligence is therefore timely, purposeful and particularly relevant to Africa's Generation Z, millennials and Generation Alpha.
In my view, the Pope is especially seeking to awaken the consciousness of young people, who are among the most active users of emerging technologies ranging from artificial intelligence and cognitive science to nanotechnology, robotics and biotechnology.
It is projected that approximately 73 percent of young people globally use artificial intelligence frequently for homework assistance, examinations, research and innovation. Across Africa, the adoption of generative AI tools is growing rapidly among young people in both educational and professional settings, making Pope Leo's cautionary message worthy of consideration.
The Pope is warning against excessive reliance on ready-made answers, arguing that such dependency risks weakening personal creativity, critical thinking and independent judgment.
I have personally witnessed this growing dependence on AI in the universities where I lecture. On numerous occasions while marking coursework and examination papers, I have found that a significant proportion of student submissions appear heavily reliant on AI-generated responses. The excessive dependence on these tools is, in my view, fostering intellectual laziness and reducing genuine academic engagement.
Many will argue that AI is enabling young people to reach new horizons, and indeed it offers enormous opportunities. However, few young users pause to examine their own potential or to consider AI's long-term effects on human creativity, dignity, freedom and coexistence.
Like Pope Leo, I worry that society could eventually produce generations of poorly trained doctors, journalists, administrators, lawyers, teachers, entrepreneurs and engineers if technological dependence continues unchecked.
AI is increasingly influencing public administration, communication and decision-making processes, creating risks of exclusion, manipulation and inequality. It is also affecting human relationships, reducing opportunities for genuine connection and potentially undermining individual freedom and social participation.
At the same time, AI is beginning to eliminate many entry-level jobs traditionally occupied by fresh graduates, exposing young people to heightened uncertainty and unemployment.
Pope Leo reminds us that artificial intelligence merely imitates certain functions of human intelligence, including language processing, behavioural prediction and analytical reasoning. It remains fundamentally dependent on data processing. While AI can replicate aspects of human cognition, it cannot replace the full depth of human intelligence. Yet its rapid expansion threatens to diminish some of the very capabilities that make us uniquely human.
The encyclical also highlights the environmental costs associated with AI technologies. Pope Leo argues that the growing computational demands of artificial intelligence contribute to carbon emissions and environmental degradation, posing long-term risks to human health and sustainable coexistence.
He therefore stresses the urgent need for sustainable solutions that can reduce these environmental impacts while protecting, preserving and restoring the planet for current and future generations.
Ultimately, Pope Leo is calling upon African youth to remain vigilant about the risks posed by artificial intelligence, to use these technologies responsibly and to support governance frameworks that ensure innovation serves humanity rather than undermines it.
African governments should benchmark countries such as Japan, Singapore and the Nordic states, which have taken significant steps toward regulating artificial intelligence. Such measures may help ensure that Africa's young population benefits from technological advancement without becoming casualties of humanity's most transformative innovation.
Robert Kigongo is a sustainable development analyst.