In a recent LinkedIn post, Linas Beliūnas highlights a significant development at the intersection of faith and artificial intelligence: the Vatican’s first encyclical focused on AI, titled ‘Magnifica Humanitas,’ released by Pope Leo XIV. Beliūnas frames this event not as a conflict between the Church and AI, but as a crucial intervention by the Vatican, delivering a message that may challenge conventional Silicon Valley thinking.
Linas Beliūnas points out that the encyclical’s core message is that technical solutions alone are insufficient for AI alignment. He emphasizes the Vatican’s stance, noting:
“Technical alignment is not enough. You can make the model safer. You can make the benchmark scores higher. You can make the guardrails cleaner. But if AI concentrates power, replaces work without a safety net, or turns human dignity into a rounding error, the problem is no longer technical. It is moral.”
The Moral Imperative in AI Development
Beliūnas elaborates on the historical context provided by Beliūnas, noting the encyclical’s release date—May 15—coincided with the 135th anniversary of ‘Rerum Novarum,’ the Church’s foundational document addressing the societal impact of the Industrial Revolution. This parallel, according to Beliūnas, underscores the Vatican’s long-standing concern with the human consequences of technological advancement.
The post details key calls to action within the encyclical, as highlighted by Beliūnas:
- Robust AI regulation
- Transparency requirements
- Worker protections
- Limits on AI in life-or-death decisions
Linas Beliūnas stresses the warning against AI exacerbating power imbalances, stating that Pope Leo XIV cautioned against AI concentrating power “in the hands of a few.”
Anthropic’s Strategic Positioning
A notable aspect of the event, as discussed by Beliūnas, was the presence of Christopher Olah, co-founder of Anthropic, at the Vatican’s launch. Beliūnas suggests that Olah’s attendance provided Anthropic with a valuable external ethical anchor, aligning with the company’s branding efforts. He elaborates on the symbiotic relationship:
“This matters because Anthropic gets proximity to moral legitimacy, while the Vatican gets a seat at the AI governance table.”
This strategic positioning, according to Beliūnas, allows Anthropic to leverage the Vatican’s moral authority, while the Vatican gains a direct channel into the AI governance discussions.
Beyond Technical Metrics: The Rise of Trust
Linas Beliūnas concludes by emphasizing that the future of AI development transcends purely technical achievements. He argues that the industry is facing a critical juncture where societal factors will play a decisive role.
“The next phase of AI will not just be decided by benchmarks, GPUs, and model releases. It will be decided by trust, labor, power, dignity, and who pays the price when ‘progress’ moves faster than society can absorb.”
In Beliūnas’s view, the ultimate competitive advantage in the AI landscape may shift from raw intelligence to something far more human: trust. This perspective suggests that as AI becomes more integrated into society, its ethical implications and societal impact will become paramount in determining its acceptance and success.
The Vatican’s engagement, as interpreted by Beliūnas, serves as a powerful reminder to the AI industry that progress must be balanced with profound consideration for human dignity, economic stability, and equitable power distribution.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Linas Beliūnas on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on May 25, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →