Magnifica Humanitas - by Robert Prevost (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"A defense of human dignity in the era of A.I. . . . including a dramatic plea for guardrails to ensure that artificial intelligence eases -- rather than exacerbates -- inequality and poverty." -- The Washington Post

A stirring call for humanity vs machines issued by the leader of the Roman Catholic Church . . .

Artificial intelligence encroaches on our lives more insidiously by the day, bent on destroying everything that makes us human. In the first encyclical of his papacy, Pope Leo XIV makes a ringing defense of the value of human life, thought, and expression. A bold statement of faith and values, the Pope's manifesto immediately becomes an essential document of our time.

Review Quotes

PRAISE FOR THE MAGINFICA HUMANITAS:
"A powerful foray by the leader of the Roman Catholic Church into the debate about the misuse or overuse of artificial intelligence." -- The New York Times

"The question Pope Leo's encyclical asks us to keep in mind is: will human beings use Artificial Intelligence to enrich not just world economies, but all of humanity?" -- Scott Simon, NPR

"A sweeping vision for corporate executives, politicians and individuals who will shape and be shaped by the future of artificial intelligence, warning leaders to safeguard humanity from A.I.'s most disruptive effects." -- The New York Times

"A defense of human dignity in the era of AI . . . including a dramatic plea for guardrails to ensure that artificial intelligence eases -- rather than exacerbates -- inequality and poverty." -- The Washington Post

"A sweeping manifesto on safeguarding humankind as the technology impacts everything from work to war." -- The Associated Press

"Reads like a sharp warning to Silicon Valley executives and humanity more broadly about the future of civilization as new technologies rapidly advance." -- The Wall Street Journal

"Leo seeks to counterbalance alarm with hope." -- The Atlantic

"At its core is a salutary emphasis on the unique value and status of human beings." -- The Guardian

"A sweeping manifesto on safeguarding humankind as the technology impacts everything from work to war." -- The Los Angeles Times

"Something truly remarkable: an affirmative vision for how humans should approach the A.I. future, one that takes seriously the very real harms of the tech while insisting throughout on the need to make it better, to actually fulfill the utopian promises promulgated by Silicon Valley." -- Slate

"A striking manifesto of Christian humanism ... not an anti-technological rant but a balanced and carefully researched analysis of the ubiquitous presence of algorithmic reasoning in our lives." -- The Irish Times

About the Author

Born Robert Francis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV has been Pope of the Catholic Church since May 8, 2025, when he became the 267th pontiff. He is the first Pope to be born in the United States, and the first from the Order of Saint Augustine. He chose the name Leo in honor of Pope Leo XIII (who was pope from 1878-1903), who was a champion of labor rights. Leo joined the Order of Saint Augustine as a friar in 1977, and was ordained a priest in 1982. After extensive missionary work in Peru, he became a bishop and also a naturalized citizen of Peru. He was named a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023.