Magnifica humanitas:
Pope Leo XIV has spoken on AI. Here’s how to understand and apply it.
In partnership with The Faith & AI Project, Pushpay has created a resource to help you more deeply understand Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica humanitas and discern exactly how it applies to the ways you lead, live, and serve. Register for free to access our expert video series, AI policy builder, and The Ultimate Guide to AI in Parish Ministry.
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A New Industrial Revolution.
A Familiar Question.
Pope Leo XIV signed Magnifica humanitas on May 15, 2026, the 135th anniversary of Rerum novarum, the encyclical through which Pope Leo XIII guided the Church through the upheavals of industrialization in 1891.
Rerum novarum gave Catholics a moral framework for navigating an economy that was transforming beneath their feet. It gave them a framework grounded in human dignity, the dignity of work, and the responsibility of institutions to protect the people they serve.
Magnifica humanitas does the same for AI. This document is the Church’s invitation and direction on how to lead during this critical time of technological revolution.
5 things Catholic parish leaders can’t miss in the Pope’s new encyclical
Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica humanitas isn’t a ban on parish software — it’s a call to keep human judgment in charge of it. Edmund Mitchell of the Faith & AI Project breaks down 5 practical takeaways for parish leaders: from why you can’t automate a conscience, to which tasks belong to a machine and which belong to a person, to why “slow” is sometimes the most pastoral choice you can make.
You can’t automate a conscience
Every tool has a point of view. Data is a starting point, not a verdict. Name what you’re handing off. Slow is a feature.
The tool already has a point of view
There is no neutral church software. Every tool ships with somebody’s priorities baked in.
Data on your parishioners
An engagement number tells you where to look. It does not tell you what’s true.
Name what you’re handing off
Intentionally decide what should be automated and what should remain personal.
Slow is a feature
Just because technology can do a myriad of things more efficiently than a human can doesn’t mean it should.
What's Inside
- Expert video series:
Short topical discussions of Magnifica humanitas by theme — what the Pope teaches, why it matters, and what it means for parishes. - AI policy builder:
You answer a few questions about your parish and we’ll generate a customizable AI policy framework rooted in the Church’s wisdom that you can start using today. - A guide for using AI at your parish:
Start using AI with confidence with “The Ultimate Guide to AI in Parish Ministry,” an ebook by Edmund Mitchell of The Faith & AI Project full of tips on how you can leverage AI with wisdom, confidence, and hope.
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Video Series
The Encyclical, Explained
We sponsored The Faith & AI Project’s podcast series, where Catholic experts in tech, AI, and ministry discussed a myriad of topics included in Pope Leo XIV’s landmark encyclical. In these videos, you’ll hear from experts like:
- Matthew Harvey Sanders
Founder & CEO of Longbeard, creator of Magisterium AI (deployed in 190+ countries, 50 languages) - Dr. Brett Robinson
Director, Church Communication Ecology Program,McGrath Institute for Church Life, University of Notre Dame - Fr. Jean Gové
Diocesan Coordinator for AI, Archdiocese of Malta; author of Malta’s 2026 position paper on the ethical adoption of AI; Holy See representative at the Council of Europe on AI
You can explore these episodes by topic in these videos.
AI Policy Builder
Build a Parish AI Policy Grounded in Church Teaching
Magnifica humanitas calls us all to thoughtful stewardship of AI — but it can’t write your parish’s AI policy for you. This tool does.
Answer a few questions about how your parish currently uses or is considering AI, and we’ll generate a customizable AI policy framework rooted in the principles of the Church’s wisdom. Take it to your pastor, your pastoral council, or your diocese. Make it yours.
Guide
Start using AI at Your Parish With Confidence
In The Ultimate Guide to AI in Parish Ministry, Edmund Mitchell of The Faith & AI Project offers insights on how parish leaders can leverage AI with wisdom, confidence, and hope.
Inside you’ll learn:
- What AI can do for your parish ministry
- What makes AI a trustworthy tool
- AI for ministry workflows you can start using today
- Direction on how to build AI guidelines for your parish staff
- And more!