Pope Leo’s encyclical ‘Magnifica Humanitas,’ published May 25, has sparked debates in the worlds of technology and theology while galvanizing online creators opposed to artificial intelligence. Anna Rowlands, a theologian and co-presenter of the text with Pope Leo, joins Colleen Dulle to parse the encyclical’s reception, its contributions to Catholic teaching, and whether workers can use the encyclical to justify religious exemptions to using A.I.

0:00 Intro
1:47 How Magnifica Humanitas has been received
6:28 Why pay attention to the pope on A.I.?
8:00 Can this encyclical galvanize change?
10:26 We’re not experts in A.I., but experts in humanity
16:41 Distinguishing between human and AI ‘consciousness’
19:14 Apology for slavery and dismissal of Just War Theory
26:38 Synodality in Magnifica Humanitas
33:42 Anna Rowlands’ experiences launching encyclicals
38:14 Outro and credits

Links from the show:
Pope Leo’s trip to Spain: Background on Sagrada Familia, migrant advocacy and a changing Catholic landscape https://www.americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/06/04/pope-leos-trip-to-spain-background-on-sagrada-familia-migrant-advocacy-and-a-changing-catholic-landscape/
More than one million attend Pope Leo’s Mass and procession in the heart of Madrid https://www.americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/06/07/more-than-one-million-attend-pope-leos-mass-and-procession-in-the-heart-of-madrid/
Pope Leo meets with 6 clergy abuse survivors in Spain https://www.americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/06/08/pope-leo-sex-abuse-victims-madrid/
Pope Leo meets Bad Bunny in Madrid https://www.americamagazine.org/news/2026/06/09/pope-leo-meets-bad-bunny-in-madrid/
A.I. is the headline for ‘Magnifica Humanitas,’ but Catholic social teaching is its spine https://www.americamagazine.org/many-things/2026/05/29/a-i-is-the-headline-for-magnifica-humanitas-but-catholic-social-teaching-is-its-spine/
Why ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ is Pope Leo’s most important action on synodality yet https://www.americamagazine.org/faithinfocus/2026/05/29/magnifica-humanitas-pope-leo-synodality/

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