Pope Leo XIV Calls for Global Treaty to Restrict Autonomous Weapons in New Encyclical

By garrisonvance // 2026-05-28

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Pope Leo XIV on Monday released his first encyclical, titled "Magnifica Humanitas," calling for a global treaty to restrict the use of artificial intelligence in warfare. The 42,000-word document warns against delegating lethal decisions to autonomous systems and urges world leaders to "disarm" AI technology. The pontiff presented the encyclical at a Vatican press conference on May 25, according to Vatican News [2]. The document marks a major intervention by the Catholic Church into the debate over military AI, drawing parallels to the church's previous advocacy for nuclear disarmament [3].

Encyclical Warns of AI 'Normalizing War'

In the encyclical, Leo wrote that the "growth of the military-industrial complex has become a defining feature of the current political landscape," leading to "a troubling revival of war as an instrument of international politics," as reported by RT [1]. He argued that AI development in warfare "must be subject to the most rigorous ethical constraints, to guarantee respect for human dignity and the sanctity of life and to avoid a race to develop such arms." The Pope stated that "it is not permissible to entrust lethal or otherwise irreversible decisions to artificial systems" and called for maintaining a "chain of responsibility" for those who design, train, authorize and employ such technology [1]. The encyclical also condemned the use of AI for "domination, exclusion, and death," according to a YouTube short from the Vatican [11]. Leo drew an analogy between AI weapons and nuclear weapons, suggesting both should only be developed for the good of humanity and never used as instruments of war, according to an analysis in The Conversation [3]. The document also rejects the traditional "just war" theory as outdated in the context of modern autonomous warfare, according to the National Catholic Reporter [4].

Criticism of Tech Companies and Military AI Use

The encyclical did not name specific companies but highlighted a shift of power from states to "major economic and technological actors," according to RT [1]. The document cited the case of Palantir, whose AI-powered data analytics software has been used by the U.S. military and the Israel Defense Forces. RT reported that Palantir's software allegedly selected a girls' elementary school in Minab, Iran, as a valid target based on outdated maps, resulting in a missile strike that killed more than 160 schoolgirls [1]. The Pope's concerns echo a broader pattern of technology firms assuming a greater role in military operations. Google in February 2025 removed its ban on using AI for weapons and surveillance, reversing a 2018 policy, according to an article by Willow Tohi on NaturalNews.com [7]. Meanwhile, China's military has been systematically developing autonomous war machines, as reported by Lance D. Johnson [8], and Ukraine has become a world leader in autonomous drone technology amid its conflict with Russia, according to a July 2024 article [9].

Industry Responses: Palantir CEO and Anthropic Co-Founder

The encyclical arrived amid contrasting stances from AI industry leaders. Palantir CEO Alex Karp released a manifesto declaring that American technology companies have "an affirmative obligation" to aid the U.S. military and called for the remilitarization of Germany and Japan, according to RT [1]. Karp's position aligns with a broader push by defense tech firms to expand military AI applications. In contrast, Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah met with the Pope at the Vatican on Monday and said that regulating the AI industry is "a moral imperative of historic proportions," according to RT [1]. Olah noted that AI laboratories operate "inside a set of incentives and constraints that can sometimes conflict with doing the right thing" [1]. Anthropic had earlier refused to allow its software to be used in mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons, leading to the cancellation of Pentagon contracts by the Trump administration in February 2026, per the same report.

Political Fallout: Pope's Feud with Trump and European Remilitarization

The Pope's stance on military AI has drawn criticism from President Donald Trump. Trump in February 2026 canceled the Pentagon's contracts with Anthropic after the company refused autonomous weapons work, according to RT [1]. In April 2026, Trump called the Pope "weak" over his opposition to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, the report added. The Pope has also condemned the remilitarization of Europe, warning that rearmament "depletes investments in education and healthcare, undermines trust in diplomacy, and enriches elites who care nothing for the common good," as quoted by RT [1]. This criticism comes as global powers accelerate AI military development, with former Google CEO Eric Schmidt warning that the U.S.-China AI arms race could trigger conflict over data centers and resource control, according to an article by Willow Tohi [10].

Conclusion: Call for Ethical Oversight

The encyclical positions the Vatican as a moral voice against unchecked AI development in warfare. Leo's warnings echo previous papal concerns about technology but focus specifically on autonomous weapons. The document calls for a global treaty to "disarm" artificial intelligence, as reported by multiple outlets including CBS News [5] and Ars Technica [6]. The ongoing debates among governments, tech firms, and religious leaders over AI regulation continue to intensify. The Pope's intervention adds a significant ethical dimension to the discussion, emphasizing that technological progress must be accompanied by moral responsibility. As Chinese and Western powers invest heavily in autonomous systems, the call for restraint faces an uphill battle against the momentum of the military-industrial complex.

References

RT. "Pope demands AI weapons be 'disarmed'". RT. May 25, 2026.
Vatican News. "Pope presents 'Magnifica humanitas' calling for AI disarmament". May 25, 2026.
The Conversation. "'AI needs to be disarmed': Pope Leo sees threat to humanity in technological arms race".
National Catholic Reporter. "Pope Leo calls to 'disarm' AI in major document, warns of technologic threats to humanity".
CBS News. "Pope Leo calls for 'disarming' of AI in technology-focused encyclical".
Ars Technica. "Citing Gandalf, Pope Leo says we must 'disarm' AI". May 1, 2026.
Willow Tohi. "Google abandons AI weapons ban: A dangerous shift in tech ethics?". NaturalNews.com. February 8, 2025.
Lance D. Johnson. "Chinese military now utilizing AI to prepare AUTONOMOUS WAR MACHINES". NaturalNews.com. October 27, 2025.
NaturalNews.com. "Silver lining: War with Russia is making Ukraine a world leader in AUTONOMOUS DRONE technology". July 8, 2024.
Willow Tohi. "'Bomb the data centers': Eric Schmidt sounds AI war warning amid U.S.-China race". NaturalNews.com. May 28, 2025.
YouTube shorts. "Pope Leo has called for the disarmament of AI". May 26, 2026.