May 25, 2026 – United Yam

Start here: 15 quotes from Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical Magnifica Humanitas #Catholic Pope Leo XIV just released his first encyclical — and it may be the most important Church document of our lifetime. Called Magnifica Humanitas, it covers artificial intelligence, human dignity, childrenʼs phones, autonomous weapons, doomscrolling, the mystery of the human soul, and why no machine will ever have the final word on what it means to be a person made in the image of God.The full document is available to download here — and worth a read. But for a quick taste of whatʼs inside, here are 15 powerful quotes from the encyclical:“Never has humanity had such power over itself.” (par. 4)"In practice, however, technology is never neutral, because it takes on the characteristics of those who devise, finance, regulate and use it. Therefore, the primary choice is not between a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to technology, but rather between constructing Babel or rebuilding Jerusalem; between a power that claims to dominate the heavens and a people who work together in the presence of God to rebuild the walls of fraternal coexistence.” (par. 9)“In the era of artificial intelligence, when human dignity is threatened by new forms of dehumanization, ours is the pressing duty to remain profoundly human. We must lovingly safeguard the grandeur of humanity bestowed upon us and revealed in its fullness in Christ, the splendor of which no machine can ever replace.” (par. 15)“Thus, the ‘rejected stones’ — the poor, the sick, the migrants and the least among us — will become the cornerstone, and a solid, welcoming common home will emerge on the earth, where love and faithfulness will finally meet, and righteousness and peace will embrace (cf. Ps 85:10).” (par.16)“Human dignity does not depend on a person’s abilities, wealth, or position in life, nor on the right or wrong choices made; instead, it is a gift that precedes and transcends each person, endowed by God as an expression of his unfailing love.” (par. 50)“Among these ideologies, I consider particularly insidious the one that suggests that every person must earn or justify his or her own worth, to the point of attributing greater value to those who are more efficient or effective.” (par. 51)“No sin, failure, humiliation, or exclusion can diminish the profound value of a human life that God has willed and called into being.” (par. 52)“Solidarity demands that decisions regarding data, algorithms, platforms and artificial intelligence take into account not only the immediate benefit for a few, but also the impact on all peoples and on future generations.” (par. 76)“For an algorithm, an error is a flaw to be corrected; for a person, however, an error can be a catalyst for profound change. A person’s future is not calculable, but depends on one’s freedom — elevated by the inexhaustible grace of God — and on the relationships cultivated.” (par. 128)“Having a personal mobile device at too early an age and using it without adult supervision can exacerbate young people’s vulnerabilities, foster addiction, and expose them to isolation, bullying, and cyberbullying, as well as to pressures to share intimate images or sensitive information.” (par. 141)“Even in the darkest nights, the Lord raises up men and women who refuse to give up, who persevere in doing good, who protect the vulnerable and open pathways to reconciliation. The memory of the saints, righteous people, and the oft-forgotten peacemakers, show us that grace does not magically eliminate conflict, but instead it inspires active resistance to evil and an astonishing creativity in doing good.” (par. 211)“The civilization of love will not arise from a single or spectacular gesture, but from the sum total of small and steadfast acts of fidelity that serve as a bulwark against dehumanization.” (par. 213)“‘Let us disarm words and we will help to disarm the world.’ Words have enormous power, something we experience in our daily interactions; for example, spoken words can change our mood for better or for worse." (par. 214)“No computational system, however sophisticated, can create a heart that gives itself, or a conscience that discerns good from evil. Even when machines excel in efficiency, a human face that asks to be gazed upon remains the center of our history. This human face is the fullness toward which history is moving.” (par. 233)“Let us remain faithful to the truth! Living amid incessant flows of information, opinions and images, we know how easy it can be to influence decisions and preferences through increasingly sophisticated algorithms. In this context, it is imperative to cultivate hearts that love the truth, prefer what is right despite the most appealing content and pursue wisdom rather than immediate results.” (par. 237)

unitedyam May 25, 2026May 25, 2026

Pope Leo XIV just released his first encyclical — and it may be the most important Church document of our lifetime.

Ted Cruz Reveals the Four GOP Senators Who Are ‘P*ssed Off’ Over Trump’s Recent Endorsements and Threatening to Derail His Agenda Solely Out Of Spite (AUDIO) –
President Trump’s agenda in the Senate is facing new threats from four senators who are livid over his recent endorsements of opponents of sitting members of Congress.
The post Ted Cruz Reveals the Four GOP Senators Who Are ‘P*ssed Off’ Over Trump’s Recent Endorsements and Threatening to Derail His Agenda Solely Out Of Spite (AUDIO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam May 25, 2026May 25, 2026

Ted Cruz delivering a speech at a podium, wearing a blue suit and pink tie, addressing an audience with a serious expression.

President Trump’s agenda in the Senate is facing new threats from four senators who are livid over his recent endorsements of opponents of sitting members of Congress.

The post Ted Cruz Reveals the Four GOP Senators Who Are ‘P*ssed Off’ Over Trump’s Recent Endorsements and Threatening to Derail His Agenda Solely Out Of Spite (AUDIO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

American Sniper Widow Calls Out Democrat Senate Candidate Graham Platner for His Outrageous Comments Attacking Her Late Husband (Video) –
The Gateway Pundit has reported on disturbing information unearthed about far-left Maine Democrat Senate candidate Graham Platner, 41, including crude sexual remarks and disparaging other military members via Reddit.
The post American Sniper Widow Calls Out Democrat Senate Candidate Graham Platner for His Outrageous Comments Attacking Her Late Husband (Video) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam May 25, 2026May 25, 2026

Smiling woman with long brown hair wearing earrings and a purple jacket, standing against a stone wall in a natural outdoor setting.

The Gateway Pundit has reported on disturbing information unearthed about far-left Maine Democrat Senate candidate Graham Platner, 41, including crude sexual remarks and disparaging other military members via Reddit.

The post American Sniper Widow Calls Out Democrat Senate Candidate Graham Platner for His Outrageous Comments Attacking Her Late Husband (Video) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

WATCH LIVE: President Trump Delivers Remarks at Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony – 12 PM ET –
President Trump will participate in the annual Wreath Laying Ceremony and deliver remarks at Arlington National Cemetery this afternoon to commemorate Memorial Day.
The post WATCH LIVE: President Trump Delivers Remarks at Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony – 12 PM ET appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam May 25, 2026May 25, 2026

Donald Trump and officials stand solemnly during a wreath-laying ceremony, surrounded by military personnel and flags.

President Trump will participate in the annual Wreath Laying Ceremony and deliver remarks at Arlington National Cemetery this afternoon to commemorate Memorial Day.

The post WATCH LIVE: President Trump Delivers Remarks at Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony – 12 PM ET appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam May 25, 2026May 25, 2026

Bishop confirms 11 at Butler parish #Catholic –

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 11 young people on Friday, May 8 at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Butler, N.J. Pictured with the bishop and confirmandi are Bill Reul (back, far left), high school youth minister at St. Anthony Parish, and Father Matthew Pravetz, OFM, St. Anthony’s pastor.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

– Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 11 young people on Friday, May 8 at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Butler, N.J. Pictured with the bishop and confirmandi are Bill Reul (back, far left), high school youth minister at St. Anthony Parish, and Father Matthew Pravetz, OFM, St. Anthony’s pastor. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

unitedyam May 25, 2026May 25, 2026

Society of the Sisters of the Church celebrates golden anniversary #Catholic –

On Saturday, May 16, The Society of the Sisters of the Church celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of their community. The event was held at St. Ann Church, Parsippany, N.J., with a Mass of Thanksgiving followed by a luncheon in the parish center.

During the liturgy, the sisters and their associates renewed their commitments and two new members, Lisa Schofield and Donna Santoro, were received into the Associate Program. Pictured in the photo are the sisters, the associates and honored guest, Sister Theresa Lee, FMA, Chancellor/Delegate for Religious of the Paterson Diocese. Mass was celebrated by Msgr. Kenneth Lasch, assisted by Deacon Peter Cistaro and concelebrated by Father Nico Quintos, pastor of St. Ann Parish, along with Msgr. Kevin Flanagan, Msgr. Herbert Tillyer, Msgr. Martin McDonnell, Msgr. Joseph Ciampaglio, Father David Pickens, Father James Termyna, and Father John DeMattia.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

– On Saturday, May 16, The Society of the Sisters of the Church celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of their community. The event was held at St. Ann Church, Parsippany, N.J., with a Mass of Thanksgiving followed by a luncheon in the parish center. During the liturgy, the sisters and their associates renewed their commitments and two new members, Lisa Schofield and Donna Santoro, were received into the Associate Program. Pictured in the photo are the sisters, the associates and honored guest, Sister Theresa Lee, FMA, Chancellor/Delegate for Religious of the Paterson Diocese. Mass was celebrated by Msgr. Kenneth

Pope Leo unveils his encyclical: AI has ‘even greater consequences’ than Industrial Revolution #Catholic VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV on Monday personally attended the presentation of his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, in an uncustomary gesture. Upon his arrival at the event, held in the Vaticanʼs Synod Hall, he was greeted with sustained applause from an audience made up of members of the Roman Curia, representatives of academia, and the diplomatic corps.Among the speakers was Canadian Christopher Olah, co-founder of Anthropic, one of the leading artificial intelligence (AI) companies. The firm has recently had tensions with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump after prohibiting the U.S. Department of Defense from using its software for military purposes.Some observers had raised concerns about including a representative of a major tech company like Anthropic in an event of this kind. The Holy Father himself dispelled any hesitation by thanking Olah for his presence: “What a great sign of hope it is that with our differences we can listen to one another,” he said in his remarks.“This interchange clearly bespeaks the gravity of the moment, as well as confidence that together we can discern the major questions of our time, and so the future of humanity,” he added.In his remarks prior to the pope’s address, Olah echoed the same idea: "That is why, if we want this technology to go well, it is enormously important that there be people outside those incentives — people who care about things going well and insist on safety, who are paying close attention, who are willing to say hard things, who are willing to be our earnest, thoughtful, critics. It is through dialogue and mutual effort, through the push and pull, that humanity will achieve great things. That is what I see in Magnifica Humanitas, and it is why I am grateful to His Holiness and the Church for taking up this work of discernment.”

Christopher Olah, co-founder of AI company Anthropic, says he is grateful to Pope Leo XIV and the Church for “taking up this work of discernment” on artificial intelligence, during his address at the presentation of the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas on May 25, 2026, in the Synod Hall of the Vatican. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News/Vatican Pool

Olah, who is not a believer, also issued a call to various sectors — religious communities, civil society, academics, and governments — to follow the pope’s example with this document: “to take this seriously, to look closely, and to push events in a better direction. We need informed critics who will tell the labs when we are failing. We need moral voices that the incentives cannot bend.”It is no coincidence that Leo XIV signed his first encyclical on May 15, the same date on which his predecessor Leo XIII promulgated Rerum Novarum (“On New Things”) in 1891 in response to the dehumanization brought about by the Industrial Revolution. As the pope explained, the world today faces a transformation of perhaps even greater scope.“Today we find ourselves facing a transformation of similar magnitude, with perhaps even greater consequences. Artificial intelligence already touches many areas of our lives and affects decisions that shape human coexistence,” he said.The pope expressed particular concern about the impact of new technologies on the conduct of war, which, he warned, is changing dramatically.“Like the earlier Leo, I feel entrusted to look upon another huge transformation with eyes of faith, with lucidity of reason, with openness to mystery, and with cries of the poor and the earth resounding in my heart,” he said.The Holy Father also described the method behind the drafting of this magisterial document, which began in July 2025 at the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo. In it, he seeks to reaffirm what makes us human in a society shaped by technology.He emphasized that Magnifica Humanitas was born from listening: “I have listened to scientists and engineers who work with sincere enthusiasm on technologies capable of alleviating immense suffering, to political leaders and public officials who have perseveringly sought just rules, to parents and teachers who are deeply concerned for the future of younger generations,” he said, without naming individuals.At the same time, he acknowledged hearing “Other very troubling voices have also reached me about increasingly autonomous weapons systems practically beyond any human reach to govern them effectively.”“I hear very troubling accounts of algorithms that can block access to healthcare, employment, and security on the basis of data tainted by prejudice and injustice. And Iʼve heard the silence of those who have no voice when decisions are made — decisions likely to generate new forms of exclusion and suffering,” he lamented.In line with the document — which states that artificial intelligence is not morally neutral — the pope called for AI to be “disarmed.”“The word is strong, I know, but deliberately chosen because this moment needs words capable of attracting attention, awakening consciences, and indicating paths forward for humanity,” he warned.“The Church has long been working for nuclear disarmament, aware that every great technical power can affect peopleʼs lives, and so must be accompanied by adequate moral discernment and public control. Nuclear disarmament remains a service to peace and the dignity of the human family,” he added.Also speaking at the presentation were three cardinals of the Roman Curia: Secretary of State Pietro Parolin; Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith; and Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.Two theologians also took the floor: Anna Rowlands, a specialist in Catholic social teaching and migration ethics at Durham University, and Leocadie Lushombo, an expert in political theology and Catholic social thought at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in California.This story was originally published by ACI Prensa, EWTN News' Spanish-language news service. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

unitedyam May 25, 2026May 25, 2026

The pope thanked Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah for his presence at the presentation: “What a great sign of hope it is that with our differences we can listen to one another.”

The Babylon Bee Has Obtained A Leaked Copy Of The Iran-U.S. Peace Deal #BabylonBee – News broke this morning that the United States and Iran have agreed to the framework of a peace deal, and our investigative team here at The Babylon Bee has managed to secure a leaked copy. Here, presented for the first time anywhere, are the terms each side has committed to:

unitedyam May 25, 2026May 25, 2026

News broke this morning that the United States and Iran have agreed to the framework of a peace deal, and our investigative team here at The Babylon Bee has managed to secure a leaked copy. Here, presented for the first time anywhere, are the terms each side has committed to:

Total Chaos As White Church Choir Tries To Sing African Spiritual #BabylonBee – FRISCO, TX – Chaos descended on Christ Methodist of Frisco as the all-white choir attempted to sing an African spiritual.

unitedyam May 25, 2026May 25, 2026

FRISCO, TX – Chaos descended on Christ Methodist of Frisco as the all-white choir attempted to sing an African spiritual.

unitedyam May 25, 2026May 25, 2026

Picture of the day

Partially frozen Gurudongmar Lake, a glacial lake located to the north of the Himalayas in the northeast Indian state of Sikkim at an altitude of over 5,150 metres (16,900 ft). The lake is fed by glaciers of the Khangchengyao massif, forms the headwaters of the Teesta river and is considered sacred by Buddhists and Sikhs. Today is Sikkim Day, which commemorates the formation of Sikkim as a state of India in 1975, following a popular referendum and full merger after decades of being a protectorate since 1947.

This Is the ‘Barbecue Capital of Texas’—and It Has a Cute Town Square, Laid-back Charm, and 5 Legendary Smokehouses #Travel It’s a classic for a reason.

unitedyam May 25, 2026May 25, 2026

It’s a classic for a reason.

Full text of Magnifica Humanitas: Read Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV signed Magnifica Humanitas, the first encyclical of his pontificate, on May 15. The document was released by the Holy See on May 25. The encyclical develops the Churchʼs social teaching in light of artificial intelligence, situating new questions of human dignity, labor, and the common good within the tradition that runs from Rerum Novarum through Centesimus Annus and Laudato Si'.Download and read the full encyclical as a PDF below.Unknown block type “cdn77.asset”, specify a component for it in the `components.types` option

unitedyam May 25, 2026May 25, 2026

The encyclical sets out the Church’s social teaching for the age of artificial intelligence. Download and read the complete document.

Hundreds of churches open doors to all as Europe marks ‘night of churches’ - #Catholic - Hundreds of Christian churches and religious sites across central Europe will open their doors on the evening of May 29 for the Night of Churches, an annual ecumenical initiative that draws nearly 1 million visitors in the Czech Republic and Austria combined.The event, now in its 18th year in the Czech Republic, invites believers and nonbelievers alike to explore churches, chapels, and synagogues through concerts, exhibitions, talks, guided tours, and prayer — often until late at night. Some participating sites grant access to towers, crypts, and spaces that are otherwise closed to the public. This yearʼs theme in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia is “Courage.”Last year, more than 460,000 visitors and 25,000 volunteers took part across the Czech Republic, an increase of 40,000 visitors and 5,000 volunteers compared with the year before. In Austria, organizers counted around 300,000 visitors in each of the last two years. In Slovakia, where precise figures were not available for 2025, several cities reported record attendance, according to the press agency of the Slovak Bishops' Conference.‘Sometimes it takes courage’Archbishop Stanislav Přibyl of Prague, writing in the periodical Kostelní Noviny published for the occasion, acknowledged that “sometimes it takes courage to even cross the threshold of a church.” The prelate invited readers to enter and “get to know each other,” noting that “churches and chapels were created as spaces for people to meet each other and with God.”

Candles spell out the word “hope” (“hoffnung”) on the floor of a church during the Long Night of Churches in the Diocese of St. Pölten, Austria. | Credit: Diocese of St. Pölten/Lange Nacht der Kirchen

Archbishop Josef Grünwidl of Vienna said he appreciated the growing popularity of the Night of Churches in neighboring Czechia, calling it “a challenge for all people to further explore their own religious and spiritual tradition, enter new spaces, and not be afraid to open up to the unknown.”In Vienna, Grünwidl and Bishop Cornelia Richter of the Evangelical (Lutheran) Church invited guests from church, society, business, and politics for dinner and discussion at the archbishopʼs palace. A limited number of seats were available through a public lottery.Organizers in the Austrian capital alone expect more than 100,000 visitors, who will be able to choose from more than 170 participating churches — including a police chapel — and performances ranging from Gregorian chant to a Korean choral concert.In Slovakia, Archbishop Bernard Bober of Košice, president of the Slovak Bishops' Conference, called on people to come, saying that “open temples will become a place of prayer, meeting, and courage to seek God in silence and in community.” He described the event as an “opportunity to rediscover the beauty of faith and the openness of our churches to everyone.”Several Czech regional governors encouraged residents to enjoy the Night of Churches for its “unique atmosphere” and “openness and sharing,” or simply to pause inside centuries-old buildings and reflect “on how we live and what we can do for us and for others.”A buried villageʼs night of memoryThe initiative has also provided unexpected settings for faith and reconciliation. In 2023, former parishioners of the village of Radovesice in the Czech Republic gathered above the site of their buried village — including its Church of All Saints — on the 40th anniversary of the villageʼs demolition.

A statue recovered from the demolished Church of All Saints stands in a field above the buried village of Radovesice in the Czech Republic during a 2023 gathering of former parishioners. | Credit: Petr Macek

The village was one of several in northwestern Czechoslovakia destroyed during the communist era to make way for mining.“We brought archive documents, paintings, and statues which had belonged to the temple [church],” Robert Kotyšan, caretaker of the Diocese of Litoměřice, explained in Kostelní Noviny.“We commemorated the deceased parishioners and debated our relationship and responsibility to the place in which we live,” Kotyšan told EWTN News.The former parishioners also unlocked a padlock from the church that had been preserved, which Kotyšan described as “a symbolic opening of a better future for this once beautiful country and an effort to return at least part of its memory and dignity to it.”

A man presents a preserved artifact from the demolished Church of All Saints to a priest during a gathering of former parishioners above the buried village of Radovesice in the Czech Republic in 2023. | Credit: Petr Macek

A considerable part of the artifacts brought to the 2023 gathering are now kept in a still-standing church in Kostomlaty pod Milešovkou, which is itself considered a “dead parish” because no parishioners attend.The next gathering is planned for 2028, the 45th anniversary of the demolition.From Frankfurt to 8 countriesThe concept of opening churches at night originated in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, in 1995. It spread to Austria in 2005 and to the Czech Republic in 2009 and has since expanded to Slovakia, Hungary, Estonia, South Tyrol in Italy, and Switzerland. The initiative usually takes place at the end of May.

unitedyam May 25, 2026May 25, 2026

The annual ecumenical initiative invites believers and nonbelievers to explore hundreds of churches, chapels, and synagogues across the Czech Republic, Austria, and Slovakia on May 29.

Magnifica Humanitas: Pope invokes justice to combat ‘anti-human vision’ in AI – #Catholic – In his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, published Monday, Pope Leo XIV calls on society and AI developers to implement “shared standards of social justice” in order for artificial intelligence to respect human dignity and serve the common good.AI is not a morally neutral tool; It matters not only how it is used, but how it is designed, Leo writes in “Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence,” published May 25. Magnifica Humanitas means “Magnificent Humanity” in Latin.He also warns that “a more moral AI is not enough if that morality is determined by a few … In fact, as with every major technological shift, AI tends to amplify the power of those who already possess economic resources, expertise and access to data.”The first encyclical letter of Leo XIV covers a wide range of social issues, focusing heavily on the impacts of AI in the areas of education, the economy, unemployment, work, the development of young people, human trafficking and war.He proposes the principles of Catholic Social Doctrine — the dignity of the person, the common good, the universal destination of goods, subsidiarity, solidarity and justice — as guidelines for decision-making and the “criteria for judging whether technologies truly serve humanity or are subjugating it.”While rejecting dichotomous thinking that pits the opportunities of AI against its risks, or enthusiasm against fear, Leo offers a stark assessment of the technological paradigm the world finds itself in today and describes a path of progress that serves people “or a progress that subjects them to the mentality of power.”“The risk extends beyond the misuse of certain technologies. More gravely, the pervasive technocratic paradigm in which we are immersed, and that is amplified by the digital revolution and AI, threatens to normalize an anti-human vision,” he writes.Leo borrows the term, “technocratic paradigm,” from Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si', in which, Leo writes, Francis critiqued a paradigm “that seeks to reduce everything to an object to be dominated.”In that anti-human vision, he continues, “the fullness of life is equated with having more, reducing weakness, eliminating uncertainty and exerting total control. When efficiency becomes the ultimate measure of value, human beings are tempted to see themselves as a project to be optimized rather than as persons called to relationship and communion.”According to Pope Leo, the central question — safeguarding our humanity — is something everyone should have a role in answering.He invokes one of his spiritual guides, St. Augustine of Hippo, quoting from “De Civitate Dei” (“The City of God”): “‘Two loves have built two cities: the earthly city, the love of self even to the contempt of God; the heavenly city, the love of God even to the contempt of self.’ As throughout history, these two loves continue to contend for dominance in our hearts today.”

Pope Leo XIV signed his first encyclical, ‘Magnifica Humanitas:’ On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence, on May 15, 2026, the 135th anniversary of the encyclical ‘Rerum Novarum’ by Pope Leo XIII. ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ was released on May 25, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media. Image composition: EWTN News

From Catholic Social Doctrine to the fight for powerThe encyclical’s 245 paragraphs are broken down into an introduction and five chapters, with the first two dedicated to an explanation of the development of the Church’s Social Doctrine from Pope Leo XIII to today, the main principles of that doctrine, and how they can be applied to the current technological age.Chapter three introduces “the technocratic paradigm” of artificial intelligence and the imbalance of digital power.Chapter four turns to the importance of safeguarding truth, democracy, work, education, and human freedom in the age of AI, while the fifth chapter is dedicated to an analysis of the normalization of war, the fight for power, and how everyone has a responsibility to help build a civilization of love through the cultivation of peace and justice.Throughout the encyclical, Leo draws on the image of construction to ask how humanity will respond to the new technological age. Humanity, he says, must choose between building the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) and building a city where God and humanity can dwell together, as Nehemiah gathered together people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (Nehemiah 2-6).“In light of these two images, the Holy Spirit challenges us today regarding our relationship with technology and the ongoing digital revolution,” he writes. “Technology has the power to heal, connect, educate and protect our common home; but it can also divide, exclude and generate new forms of injustice.”Pope Leo XIV draws on quotations from prominent 19th and 20th-century thinkers, both Catholic and Jewish, including St. John Paul II, Victor Frankl, Hannah Arendt, J.R.R. Tolkien, Giorgio La Pira, and Fr. Romano Guardini, to argue that while technology is not a solution in itself to humanity’s problems, nor is it inherently evil.“In practice, however, technology is never neutral, because it takes on the characteristics of those who devise it, finance it, regulate it and use it,” he writes.The choice, he continues, is not between a “yes” or “no” to technology, but “between constructing Babel or rebuilding Jerusalem; between a power that claims to dominate the heavens and a people who work together in the presence of God to rebuild the walls of fraternal coexistence.”Frequently cited sources for the encyclical letter include Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical Caritas in Veritate and the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.Writing that he does not wish to give a comprehensive overview of AI, the pope points readers to previous writings by the Church on AI, in particular, the 2025 note Antiqua et Nova by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Culture and Education and Quo Vadis, Humanitas? published earlier this year by the International Theological Commission — both of which are cited often in the footnotes of Magnifica Humanitas.Christian humanism and the technocratic paradigmThe pope writes about the mindsets of transhumanism and posthumanism and how they are the ideological vision underlying technology.He proposes a Christian humanism, where human beings “are not confined by the boundaries of their own nature; rather, they are called to self-transcendence, not through an escape from reality or a contempt for their limitations, but through their fulfillment in love.”In Magnifica Humanitas, the Holy Father also expresses concern about the “new monopolies of AI.”“To speak of the common good means exposing this new form of epistemic, economic, and political asymmetry,” he writes.The key question, he says, is that posed by Saint John Paul II: Does AI “make human life on earth ‘more human’ in every aspect of that life? Does it make it more worthy of man?’”Leo writes that “a decisive test for the ethical discernment of AI and digital transformation” is in the fight against new forms of slavery, such as human trafficking. The pontiff goes on to “sincerely ask for pardon,” in the name of the Church, for the “immense suffering and humiliation endured by so many” before slavery was unequivocally condemned in the 19th century.“This development offers a clear example of the Church’s growth in understanding the perennial truths of Revelation that she safeguards. Although there was not always consistency in practice,” he writes, “there has been a continuous affirmation throughout history of the dignity of every human being, created in the image of God, even if it took eighteen centuries for its full incompatibility with slavery to be explicitly recognized.”The memory of past blindness and complicity regarding the injustice of slavery is “a call to vigilance,” the pope says. “What we have learned must be translated into discernment and responsibility in the present.”‘A violent culture of power’A large section of the pope’s letter is devoted to what he writes is, “a troubling revival of war as an instrument of international politics,” AI use in warfare, a crisis in multilateralism, and the erosion of ethical principles that used to limit war.“Humanity is slipping into a violent culture of power,” he warns. “Today, more than ever, without prejudice to the right to self-defense in the strictest sense, it is important to reaffirm that the ‘just war’ theory which has all too often been used to justify any kind of war, is now outdated. Humanity possesses far more effective and capable tools for promoting human life and resolving conflicts, such as dialogue, diplomacy and forgiveness.”“The modern Babel can be seen not only in the globalized technocratic paradigm, but also in the remote clash between opposing imperialisms, between powers that wish to preserve their supremacy, and those that aspire to seize that supremacy, resulting in a multiplicity of local conflicts. Moreover, there seems to be no limit to the race — driven by a dehumanizing ambition — to develop evermore powerful technologies or to secure control over them,” Pope Leo writes.But the pontiff does not conclude on a negative note. He adds that, “despite this downward spiral, we can also glimpse a great part of humanity that is striving to remain human and working to build the holy city of coexistence and peace.”Concluding the document, he expresses the hope that, “In the humble fidelity of daily life, even the era of AI can become a time in which the Holy Spirit brings about the civilization of love in our lives.”“Indeed, the Lord continues to make all things new and offers every era the possibility of becoming part of salvation history in the light of the Incarnation.”

unitedyam May 25, 2026May 25, 2026

Published Monday, the pope’s new encyclical warns of a “culture of power” fueled by the digital revolution and artificial intelligence.

unitedyam May 25, 2026May 25, 2026

Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. May 24: Egeria slides on by After reaching superior conjunction midmonth, Mercury is increasing in visibility and should be easily identifiable now in the evening sky. Just half an hour after sunset, step outside to see if you can spot the solar system’sContinue reading “The Sky Today on Monday, May 25: Three planets after sunset”

The post The Sky Today on Monday, May 25: Three planets after sunset appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.