“You are the light of the world….
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.”
Less than a month ago, on May 25, a huge light was lit in a small city in Italy which has given tremendous light to all the world. That was the day Pope Leo released his first encyclical in Rome on a topic that is of major importance today, that is, the whole subject of Artificial Intelligence, better known as AI. I read it over the weekend and found it to be very insightful, easy to read, down to earth, and full of wisdom and guidance. In many ways I also found it prophetic in that our Pope is heralding the moral and ethical questions that aren’t being asked as we witness the rapid use of AI, but, indeed, need to be asked.
The title of this encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas”, which means “magnificent humanity”, speaks to the whole theme of this document, which is, that no machine can ever replace the God-given magnificence of a human being. Pope Leo is not rejecting AI in his writings. Rather, he is calling for ethical discernment and moral guidance in the responsible development and use of AI.
Throughout his writings, he is genuinely concerned with how we protect human dignity, work, and relationships in this age of AI, especially with those who are poor and vulnerable. He explains, offers, and promotes the values of the Church’s Social Doctrine for responsible planning of AI, especially as these principles impact not only human dignity, and work, but also solidarity, care for our common home, the option for the poor, and the common good.
In the last paragraph, Pope Leo writes this hopeful thought:
“In the humble fidelity of daily life, even the era of AI can become a time in which the Holy Spirit brings about the civilization of love in our lives. Indeed, the Lord continues to make all things new and offers every era the possibility of becoming part of salvation history in the light of the Incarnation.”1
No doubt, Pope Leo is an important ‘light for the world’, and so are we, each in our own way. Jesus’ image of light in today’s Gospel is meant to inspire us, energize us, and prepare us for our daily mission. Our faith gives us meaning and purpose, goals and directions. Thanks to the Holy Spirit, we can renew our spirit and recommit our energy to the task of bringing that light of Christ to the brokenness around us by our words and deeds. By being Christ’s light, we can build up the kingdom and make our God-given humanity a little more magnificent.
