Artificial Intelligence Fingerprints Detected in Papal Document
Researchers have identified signs that artificial intelligence—specifically Anthropic’s Claude model—was used in drafting the encyclical signed by Pope Leo XIV on May 15, 2026. This marks the first papal document of its kind to focus entirely on the topic of artificial intelligence. The encyclical was publicly presented on May 27, during which the Pope appeared alongside Anthropic co-founder Christopher Ola.
The document contains 42,300 words, with the opening sections showing that 62% of the text was machine-generated. Overall analysis indicates that roughly 46% of the entire encyclical was authored by AI. The Pangram detection tool was used to examine the text, revealing segments scored at 0% AI authorship. In contrast, recent transcripts of the Pope’s speeches pass the same test with a 100% human authorship rating.
Ethical Dimensions of Artificial Intelligence Technologies
A hallmark of the Claude model is the word 'genuinely.' During the presentation, Pope Leo XIV stressed the need to
“disarm technologies, stripping them of the logic of domination, exclusion, and death”, and called for
“moving forward together into the AI era.”These statements underscore the importance of ethical considerations in the advancement of AI technologies.
This encyclical reflects the Church’s growing engagement with ethical issues surrounding artificial intelligence. It also illustrates how traditional institutions are attempting to adapt to emerging challenges posed by technological progress. The use of AI in composing such a significant document may spark further debate about the boundaries and potential of human-machine collaboration in the humanities.
In light of the Pope's call for ethical considerations in AI, it is noteworthy that the Vatican is taking further steps to address these issues. Recently, the Holy See announced plans to form a specialized commission on artificial intelligence. This initiative reflects a growing recognition of the need for responsible AI development and oversight within the Church, aligning with the themes presented in the encyclical.