Pope Leo XIV Issues Moral Reflection on AI, Echoing PM Modi’s Vision for Ethical Technology Governance
New Delhi: Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical, titled Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence, serves as his first significant moral reflection on artificial intelligence (AI) and aligns closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s consistent advocacy for human-centric, ethical, and inclusive AI governance. Both leaders emphasize that technology must serve humanity, rather than reduce individuals to mere data or profit centers.
Pope Leo XIV frames AI as a critical moral concern of our time, placing human dignity, truth, justice, freedom, work, and peace at the forefront of the AI discourse. Similarly, PM Modi has articulated this view at various global platforms, including the GPAI Summit and the AI Action Summit in Paris, stressing that AI should be trusted, safe, and geared towards public welfare, moving beyond mere commercial or geopolitical competition.
A shared concept between the two leaders is the prioritization of human dignity over technological advancement. Pope Leo XIV states, “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.” In a comparable stance, PM Modi has asserted, “Technology exists to serve humanity, not replace it.” He identified a crucial challenge at the India AI Impact Summit 2026: to make AI human-centric rather than machine-centric and responsible rather than reckless.
The Pope warns against the devaluation of humanity in favor of automation, highlighting that no machine can replicate “the grandeur of humanity,” a sentiment echoing PM Modi’s insistence that technology must enhance human judgment and responsibility. The Vatican document cautions against a “culture of power” in the AI race, where data concentration favors a select few corporations and nations.
According to Pope Leo XIV, “technology is never neutral” as it embodies the values and intentions of its creators and regulators. He argues for the necessity of robust legal frameworks that provide accountability, stating, “It is not enough to invoke ethics in the abstract; robust legal frameworks, independent oversight, informed users, and a political system that does not abdicate its responsibility are required.” PM Modi has expressed a similar viewpoint, asserting that AI governance cannot be solely left to markets or technology companies, emphasizing that “ethics in AI cannot be optional or limited.”
Both leaders articulate a unified understanding of technology’s purpose, with the Pope declaring that technology has the potential to “heal, connect, educate and protect our common home,” while also warning that it can divide and generate injustice. PM Modi invokes the traditional Indian principle of ‘Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhaye’, underscoring the goal of technology as “Welfare for All, Happiness of All.”
Regarding equity and access, both the Pope and PM Modi express concerns over technological inequities. The Pope highlights the risks of technological goods becoming “concentrated in the hands of a few,” creating new disparities, particularly in developing societies. PM Modi similarly cautioned during the GPAI Summit in 2023, noting that unequal access to technology has historically exacerbated inequalities, and urged for inclusivity in AI governance for developing countries.
They also express aligned concerns about dehumanization and the reduction of individuals to algorithmic categories. The Pope cautions against the belief that a singular digital language can fully encapsulate the person’s essence, while PM Modi stresses that “AI must not reduce human beings to mere data points or raw material.”
While their languages may differ—metaphysical versus developmental—both reject the notion that human identity can be entirely quantified or governed by machines. Moreover, both leaders recognize the dangers of biases embedded in AI systems, which masquerade as objective. The Pope warns that AI can perpetuate the biases of its creators and is often cloaked in “a veneer of neutrality.” PM Modi has similarly argued for the need for “quality data sets, free from biases” due to India’s diverse society, pointing out the potential for AI bias to arise from language, culture, and socio-economic factors.
The discourse on the future of work is another common area of concern. The encyclical articulates fears about automation resulting in job loss, which affects dignity and social structures. Pope Leo XIV calls for protective measures for jobs in conjunction with automation. Conversely, PM Modi adopts a transition-focused approach, contending, “Loss of jobs is AI’s most feared disruption. But history has shown that work does not disappear due to technology; its nature changes and new jobs are created.” He advocates for preparation and skilling as defenses against job disruptions.
Their shared perspectives highlight a compelling argument for broader global action in AI governance. Pope Leo XIV champions “shared responsibility and courage” to ensure that technology serves humanity rather than leading to exclusion or domination. Meanwhile, PM Modi proposes a global compact on AI focused on human oversight and safety.
His proposed MANAV framework—Moral and Ethical Systems, Accountable Governance, National Sovereignty, Accessible and Inclusive, and Valid and Legitimate AI—articulates these principles within an Indian context. The Pope’s framework is grounded in Catholic social teachings of human dignity and solidarity, while PM Modi’s derives from democratic values and India’s civilisational ethos.
In essence, both leaders articulate a common anxiety: the pace of AI development may outstrip the moral and institutional frameworks essential for its governance. Together, their visions suggest an emergent global consensus that AI must not evolve into a tool for domination or dehumanization; rather, it must remain accountable to the human individual.
