Pope Leo XIV's new encyclical, 'Magnifica Humanitas,' addresses the societal implications of artificial intelligence. The document, which is approximately 40,000 words long, includes a quote from Gandalf in J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Return of the King,' relating it to the concept of a "civilization of love" and the importance of "small and steadfast acts of fidelity."
Analysis of the encyclical by Linch Zhang, posted on the forum LessWrong, suggests that certain sections may have been generated by AI. Using the AI detection tool Pangram, Zhang's analysis indicated that between 40 percent and 100 percent of specific paragraphs could be AI-generated.
Furthermore, the encyclical's inclusion of the Gandalf quote has drawn attention due to its perceived resonance with certain figures in the tech industry, particularly Peter Thiel and his associates, who have publicly expressed admiration for Tolkien's work and have named companies after elements from his writings. The encyclical's release date was May 15, 2026.
