VATICAN CITY -- Pope Leo XIV called for regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) in his first encyclical as pontiff.

The major theological document comes just over a year since Pope Leo XIV's conclave. In the days following the election, Leo said he believes AI is one of the biggest challenges that humanity faces right now.

The roughly 40-page letter published Monday offers guidance to Catholic churches and faithful regarding the usage of AI amid its rapid growth globally, while also appealing to AI developers and political leaders. Pope Leo XIV urges them to use ethical and spiritual guidelines in the regulation of AI and seek betterment of humanity over profit or power.

"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," wrote Leo. "A more moral AI is not enough if that morality is determined by a few."

The Pope said the power of data like AI is dangerous when kept in the private sector and should have external regulation. Leo also commented on AI in the use of war, demanding transparency in using strikes with AI weaponry. Pope Leo XIV declared that the Catholic church's 'just war' theory is now outdated because of how technology has advanced. The theory outlines specific criteria for justifying the use of force.

University of Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C. responded to the papal encyclical in part quote, "In Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV has given us a profound gift: a teaching that reminds us that every human life possesses an inviolable dignity and that safeguarding this dignity must be the foundation of every decision we make as we develop and apply artificial intelligence."

Rev. Dowd continues, "At Notre Dame, our mission as a global Catholic research university compels us to advance Pope Leo XIV’s historic contribution to Catholic social tradition through our research, our teaching, and all of our work in service of the common good. The Holy Father has highlighted the critical role that Catholic scholars and researchers — and all those of goodwill — must play in raising moral questions and actively shaping new technologies to ensure they serve the entire human family."