Full Breakdown
Vatican’s AI Encyclical Event Features Anthropic Co-founder Amid Political Tensions
5/24/2026, 8:20:33 AM
Vatican Announces AI Encyclical with Anthropic Co-founder as Speaker
On May 25, Pope Leo XIV will present his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on artificial intelligence and human dignity. The press conference will include lay speaker Christopher Olah, co-founder of the AI research firm Anthropic, alongside Cardinals Víctor Manuel Fernández and Michael Czerny and theologians Anna Rowlands and Leocadie Lushombo.
Background: Vatican-Tech Dialogue Since 2016
The Vatican began formal AI engagement with the Minerva Dialogues in 2016. In 2020 the Pontifical Academy for Life hosted “RenAIssance,” culminating in the Rome Call for AI Ethics, signed by the Vatican, Microsoft, IBM, the FAO and Italy’s Ministry of Innovation. Subsequent reports note continued collaborations with scholars, clergy and ethicists.
Key Figures & Organizations
- Pope Leo XIV – author of the encyclical.
- Christopher Olah – Anthropic co-founder, head of research, self-described atheist and ethical vegan.
- Anthropic – San Francisco-based AI firm behind the Claude assistant; public-benefit corporation.
- Cardinals Víctor Manuel Fernández & Michael Czerny – senior Vatican officials.
- Build American AI – advocacy group led by Nathan Leamer.
- U.S. administration – President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, both commenting on the encyclical.
Data & Statistics
- Anthropic has consulted more than 15 religious and cross-cultural groups in recent months.
- The company’s valuation is reported as $950 billion (pending investor talks) and elsewhere as $900 billion.
- The 2020 Rome Call listed six core AI principles and was signed by five major entities.
- Anthropic’s primary revenue derives from API sales rather than direct Claude subscriptions.
Why It Matters
The Vatican’s framing of AI as a challenge to human dignity elevates ethical debate to a global moral platform, potentially shaping regulatory discourse. Simultaneously, the inclusion of a secular AI leader occurs as the Trump administration labels Anthropic a “supply-chain risk” and pursues litigation, highlighting a clash between religious-based ethics and U.S. security policy.
Official Statements & Responses
- The Vatican’s release states the encyclical will “address AI’s impact on justice, labor and human dignity.”
- Anthropic’s press note says it has “organized dialogues with groups whose work and traditions bear on the questions raised by AI.”
- President Trump has described Pope Leo as “not a fan.”
- Vice President J.D. Vance said he is “looking forward to reading” the document, calling it “a very, very important document.”
- Pope Leo’s earlier remarks framed AI as a “challenge to human dignity, justice and labor.”
Criticism & Opposition
- Nathan Leamer of Build American AI warned: “It is disappointing that secularists are the centerpiece of this event.” He added, “We should be leaning on those who believe in the eternal to guide this discourse – not a person who believes they are God.”
- The Trump administration’s Department of Defense designated Anthropic a supply-chain risk, citing “ideological” concerns, while Anthropic argues the ban stems from its refusal to enable mass surveillance or autonomous weapons.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Valuation figures differ: $950 billion versus $900 billion.
- Sources disagree on Anthropic’s primary revenue source, citing API sales versus Claude usage.
- The precise legal basis for the Pentagon’s supply-chain designation remains unclear in public filings.
Verbatim Quotes
- “One might suspect that Christianity borrowed some of its content,” — Christopher Olah
- “If you (living in the Roman Empire) want to convince your friends that this Jesus figure was executed unjustly, it would be very tempting to make him as similar as possible to Socrates.” — Christopher Olah
- “The questions posed by AI are bigger than the AI community,” — Christopher Olah
- “We urgently need the world – religions, civil society, academics, governments – to participate in creating a positive outcome.” — Christopher Olah
What’s Next
The encyclical will be read publicly on May 25, after which Vatican-led forums are expected to continue. Ongoing litigation between Anthropic and the Pentagon may influence future U.S. policy on AI procurement, while the Vatican plans further dialogues with tech firms and religious groups.
