Rights of the marginalised in Magnifica Humanitas

Magnifica Humanitas is receiving extensive praise internationally for its contemplation of the new moral and social implications of artificial intelligence (AI) in our techno-centric world. As a human rights activist, I too was interested to see how this encyclical could affect humans and life. It was a stimulating read, leaving me with abundance of notes.

His Holiness, Pope Leo's first encyclical, Magnicifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in a Time of Artificial Intelligence, was released by Holy See on May 25, 2026 with approximately 42,000 words making 245 numbered paragraphs. After the Introduction, the first two chapters provide scriptural and historical context, establishing continuity with long arc of Catholic Social Teaching. Although chapters three through five address the heart of Pope's concerns, he excessively references previous encyclicals and Catholic social doctrine.

In his encyclical, Pope speaks loudly about the dignity of person, promotion of justice and possibility of fraternity. In the introduction he states that in this age of AI, when human dignity is threatened by new forms of dehumanisation, it is our duty to remain profoundly human.

The Pope does not oppose knowledge and technology, he submits that innovations can serve human development and care of world. However, if power of AI and technology is in the hands of few, it increases the risk of unfair developments that enhance dependencies, exclusions, manipulations and inequalities. He states, "the use of AI is never a purely technical matter: when it enters processes that affect people's lives, it touches on rights, opportunities, status and freedom. Important and sensitive decisions - concerning employment, credit, access to public services or even a person's reputation - risk being fully delegated to automated systems".

The Pope cautions that ethical frameworks involved should be according to shared standards of social justice, otherwise those who control AI will impose their own values. Today, the convergence of automation, robotics and AI is rapidly transforming the structure of work. Advance societies are mechanising chaotically, reducing the need for labour which is raising unemployment and institutional friction. Pope is concerned about labour rights and speaks high of Labour Unions. He calls upon them to be open to new forms of employment and the corresponding needs of workers, in order to represent and protect them. Innovation should not become an accelerator of injustice. Labour policies need to promote continuity and quality of employment, countering insecurity. It is essential to invest in accessible education and retraining, so that the professional adoptability demanded by the digital economy cannot be a hindrance for workers.

Speaking about free market pope elaborates that economic freedom must be measured against the common good. He reiterates Pope Francis: "A just society requires a vigilant State and civil institutions that are capable of overcoming the singular mentality of efficiency, and of ensuring that resources, creative solutions and regulations favour the most vulnerable."

Today, scientific and technological advances, even in the medical field, are not accessible to the poor. So, Pope focuses on access to the benefits of innovation, including care, knowledge, tools and opportunities righteously. Just laws and methods of redistribution are necessary for rectifying inequality. Politics has the task of orientating economies and technologies to the common good, promoting dignified work, social inclusion and an equitable distribution of wealth and innovation.

Speaking on the vulnerability of minors, the Pope directs our attention to online practices like grooming, blackmailing and the sexual exploitation. Using a mobile device in early age without adult's supervision can intensify young people's vulnerabilities. The Pope recommends we first educate ourselves on how to interact with technology in a human-centric way. Through strong community partnerships, we must patiently guide the next generation. We must teach children that proper use of technology helps them avoid online risks and preserve their dignity. Technology must not dictate our future, we should shape it.

War is always more destructive for marginalised while influential gain more power and earn money. In time of growing technology and AI, there are hybrid forms like cyberattacks, information manipulation, campaigns of influence and the automation of strategic decisions additional to conventional warfare. These hybrid forms can destabilise countries even before open armed conflict erupt, so, Pope emphasises that diplomacy must be capable of operating effectively in this new environment, negotiating shared regulations on the use of digital technologies, to protect vulnerable.

The Pope speaks about how AI would enhance the environmental crises which effects the marginalised individuals and poor countries more. So, it is essential to develop more sustainable technological solutions that reduce environmental impact and help protect the world.

To build the civilisation of love and peace in this AI era, Pope proposes five paths: "The need to disarm words, building peace through justice, adopting the perspective of victims, cultivating a healthy realism and reviving dialogue and multilateralism."

As a Pakistani human rights activist, I can relate with the cautionary tone of this encyclical. I illustrate its implications in Pakistan with two anecdotes. First, although Karachi already faces a shortage of water, Pakistan's largest data centre has been set up in Karachi. Data centres need lots of water to keep cool, so building these may enhance the water crises in Pakistan. It falls to the government and utility companies to prevent harms.

Second, according to Situation Analysis of 'National Commission on the Rights of Child', Pakistani children are targeted by online predators, subjected to cyberbullying and blackmailed through extortion and leaked private images. So, we as state, communities and parents need to adopt protective measures.

The encyclical aligns with the International Human Rights Mechanism and talks about the common good of this world. The wealthy technology companies and states have greater responsibility to meet the challenges of modern technology and AI in a way that it should be safer for the marginalised.