Report on the title and content of Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical

Rome - A new pope often puts his programme of content into a first doctrinal letter that is distributed worldwide. There is currently speculation in Rome as to what Leo XIV's first encyclical will be called – and what it will contain.

Published on 01.10.2025 at 13:28 –

Roman Vatican observers are currently speculating on the name and content of the first two papal doctrinal letters by Leo XIV. It is generally expected that his first encyclical will deal with the challenges facing humanity as a result of artificial intelligence (AI). The often well-informed Roman portal "Silere non possum" reported on Wednesday that the Latin title of the letter will be "Magnifica humanitas" (The Magnificent Humanity).

Encyclicals are doctrinal letters from the Pope that are distributed worldwide and usually deal with fundamental questions of a theological, philosophical or social nature. Their name is derived from the first words of the text.

Since his election, Pope Leo has repeatedly spoken out about the rapid development of AI and warned of the dangers of this technological development. According to "Silere non possum", Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical on the global mega-topic of AI could have a similar significance to Pope Leo XIII 's historic encyclical "Rerum novarum" from 1891, in which a pope addressed the consequences of industrialisation for the first time and thus founded Catholic social teaching.

There is also a letter on the subject of poverty

The "Silere non possum" portal also reported that Leo XIV was planning to publish a papal letter on the subject of poverty before the encyclical. However, it would merely be an apostolic exhortation with less binding force and would be dedicated to the importance of the poor for the preaching and pastoral care of the Church. The letter will be dated 4 October, the day of St Francis of Assisi.

According to the portal, the text includes many ideas that originate from the now retired Italian Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia (80). Paglia is close to the Community of Sant'Egidio and headed the Pontifical Academy for Life under Pope Francis from 2016 to 2025. According to "Silere non possum", the Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Secretariat of State reviewed and revised the text on behalf of Pope Leo. (KNA)