Pope Leo's encyclical on humanity and AI

Last month was a very trying time for our country. Aside from a devastating earthquake, too much political upheaval rocked our government, and there was the Tacloban school shooting, Aurora drowning of athletes, and upsurge of crimes and corruption.

Amid socio-economic and political turmoil, the CBCP invited me to lecture in a convention of archbishops, bishops, priests, deacons, nuns, and lay leaders of the Church on how to safeguard human dignity in the era of artificial intelligence. The first encyclical by Pope Leo XIV is entitled Magnifica Humanitas published by the Vatican last May 26. It was the focus of my dissertation.

This historic pontifical document is considered as one of the landmark papal encyclicals, in the level of importance of Rerum Novarum by Pope Leo XIII on May 15, 1891; Quadragesimo Anno by Pope Pius XI , May 15, 1931; Mater et Magistra by St. John XXIII, May 15, 1961; Pacem In Terris, St. John XXIII, April 11, 1963, Populorum Progressio,  St. Paul VI, March 26, 1967, Laborem Exercens, St. John Paul  II, September 14, 1981; Centesimus Annos, St. John Paul II, May 1, 1991; Caritas in Veritate, Pope Benedict XVI, June 29, 2009; Laudato Si, Pope Francis, May 24, 2015; and Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis, October 3, 2020.

Entitled "Magnifica Humanitas", it’s a papal discernment on the need to safeguard the human person in the age of AI. It invites all humans to exercise utmost wisdom and prudence in dealing with technology during an era of rapid technological, economic, industrial, social and political changes. We’re all called to put human dignity in the center of all developments. The pope asserts that human intelligence, experience and achievements are superior to artificial thinking process.

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, upon his election as the 267th pope, adopted Pope XIV as his pontifical name to manifest his intent to continue the line of papal social and humanist teaching started by Pope Leo XIII in Rerum Novarum. Thus, Magnifica Humanitas recalls Rerum Novarum's fundamental principles extolling the greatness of humans and their superiority over all creations. Certainly, the human mind, will, intellect, and conscience can never be replaced by machines and technology

Under the sub-heading "Remaining Human", the pope writes: "We walk as pilgrims of hope with many graces. Strengthened by these gifts, we can move forward with confidence to face the arduous tasks and demanding challenges that lie ahead. In the era of artificial intelligence, when human dignity is threatened by new forms of dehumanization, ours is the pressing duty to remain profoundly human. We must lovingly safeguard the grandeur of humanity bestowed upon us and revealed in its fullness in Christ, the splendor of which no machine can ever replace."

He stresses: "True progress always stems from a heart open to others, an intelligence willing to listen, and a will that seeks what unites rather than what separates." He further emphasizes: "Let us not be afraid to get our hands dirty on the "construction site" of our time. Like Nehemiah, let us pray, plan wisely and work perseveringly, placing God at the forefront of our actions and the human person at the center of our choices." These are the lines I like most. These too should be the calling that all of us should listen to and follow.

“Thus, the ‘rejected stones’, the poor, sick, migrants, and least among us-- will become the cornerstone, a solid, welcoming common home will emerge on the earth where love and faithfulness will finally meet and where righteousness and peace will embrace. This is the blessing we implore from God and the task that stands before us is that of being builders of communion, rather than architects of Babel. We are to be servants of the coming kingdom instead of lords of towers destined for ruin." What a beautiful exhortation from the first American pope.

Magnifica Humanitas is a very long document. I have neither space nor time to contain its entirety. Suffice it to say for the moment that all Catholics, all Christians and all men and women of goodwill, to my mind, should read this. It gives us very compelling guidelines in understanding the true meaning and purpose of life at these times.

My experience in the CBCP convention has been sort of my journey to Emmaus where I encountered some people of God contemplating the true meaning of life and the reason why we’re here on earth.