Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical has sparked a wave of viral reactions online, with people of all backgrounds — including many non-Catholics — expressing enthusiasm for the pontiff's bold stance on artificial intelligence.
World News — Shortly after Pope Leo XIV issued his wide-ranging manifesto calling for the robust regulation of artificial intelligence, social media erupted with commentary, memes, and unexpected praise from well beyond the Catholic faithful.
The Instagram meme account Saint Hoax, which has more than 3 million followers, posted a video responding to the pope's call to "disarm" AI, with the caption: "Love my woke pope (I'm not even Catholic)."
In another viral post, an X user wrote about how the encyclical shook their skepticism, describing AI as an affront to human dignity in terms that resonated far outside religious circles.
The encyclical, titled Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity), has been generating widespread enthusiasm online since its release, driven in part by a perception — especially among younger audiences — that few global leaders seriously grapple with the real ramifications of AI's rapid rise.
History's first U.S.-born pope has shown a willingness to engage with contemporary culture. He was recently spotted wearing Nike sneakers under his vestments, and the encyclical itself drew from a wide range of modern cultural references.
Analysts note the encyclical arrives at a pivotal moment for the Catholic Church, which has been working to rebuild trust following years of reckoning with its legacy of clergy sexual abuse. Observers say many people who had drifted from the faith are now reconsidering whether the Church still has something meaningful to say to the modern world.
The presentation of the encyclical at the Vatican on May 25, 2026, was notably attended by Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah, underlining the document's engagement with the tech world.
"I think a lot of people who moved away from the church are now saying, 'Wait, maybe the church does have something to say to the modern world.'"
— Religious Affairs Analysts
Pope Leo XIV's encyclical is being closely watched by faith communities, tech leaders, and policymakers alike as the global conversation around AI regulation continues to intensify.
