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Pope Leo XIVs AI Encyclical Shapes U.S. Policy Debates on Child Safety and Labor
On 25 May, Pope Leo XIV released the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, a document that has already begun to echo through Capitol Hill corridors and state legislative chambers. The Pope’s call for new guardrails on artificial intelligence (AI) urges lawmakers to “establish adequate regulatory tools capable of upholding justice and curving the distorting effects of technological power.” He stresses that public officials must create robust legal frameworks, independent oversight, and informed user protections, insisting that the political system cannot abdicate responsibility for AI’s societal impact.
The encyclical’s influence is already visible among Catholic policy experts. Anthony Granado, associate general secretary for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), said that policymakers have reacted positively to the Pope’s call. “Everyone I talked to is excited about Pope Leo and they’re excited about the Catholic Church,” Granado told the Register. He added that the Church’s voice is respected and that the encyclical provides a clear direction for regulation.
At the state level, Minnesota offers a concrete example of the encyclical’s reach. Executive director Jason Adkins of the Minnesota Catholic Conference reported that legislative staffers have asked the state chaplain to lead a study group on Magnifica Humanitas. Adkins noted that lawmakers are intrigued by the Church’s ethical framework for navigating technology.
One policy outcome tied directly to the encyclical is the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), introduced by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R‑Tennessee). KOSA requires platforms such as messaging apps, video games, and streaming services to implement safety features for minors and to give parents greater control over content. The bill also covers AI‑driven elements like algorithmic recommendations and chatbots, placing them under KOSA’s jurisdiction. Granado described KOSA as “a good start” toward guardrails on AI usage in digital spaces.
KOSA has bipartisan support, with 76 Democrats and Republicans co‑sponsoring the bill, but it has stalled in the Senate since 2025. The USCCB has urged that the legislation address the risks of AI exposing children to harmful material, citing cases where parents reported that their children were exposed to content that threatened their well‑being.
Beyond child safety, the encyclical’s call for regulation resonates with concerns about AI in the workforce. Sen. Joshua Hawley (R‑Missouri) and Sen. Mark Warner (D‑Virginia) introduced the AI‑Related Job Impacts Clarity Act in November 2025. The bill would require employers to publish reports of jobs lost to AI, a measure the USCCB says is needed to prevent displacement without adequate worker support.
The encyclical also addresses AI in warfare. According to senior ethicist Joseph Meaney of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, the use of lethal autonomous weapons (LAWS) is “ethically unacceptable.” Meaney warned that AI could target and kill individuals without human control, underscoring the need for oversight.
In healthcare, Adkins cautioned that AI tools might be used to deny coverage based on probabilistic assessments rather than human judgment, especially in insurance‑funded models. He emphasized that AI should support, not replace, human decision‑makers.
The Trump administration’s executive order, Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security, also reflects a shift toward regulation. The order requires AI companies to provide the federal government access to certain models that could pose a security risk. Granado noted that the White House is debating the order’s implications and urged the administration to heed bipartisan calls for reasonable guardrails.
State‑level actions further illustrate the encyclical’s reach. Minnesota’s Stop Harms From Addictive Social Media Act, which the Minnesota Catholic Conference supported, requires parental consent for children under 16 to create a social media account. A separate bill banning recreational use of AI chatbots for minors failed to pass the 2026 legislative session, but Adkins said the issue remains a priority.
While no federal AI regulation has yet been enacted, the encyclical’s emphasis on justice, oversight, and human dignity is shaping legislative agendas. Policymakers at both the federal and state levels are engaging with the Pope’s guidance, and several bills—such as KOSA and the AI‑Related Job Impacts Clarity Act—illustrate the growing momentum for AI guardrails.
The current situation remains in flux. Federal legislation on AI is still pending, and state laws continue to evolve. The encyclical’s influence is evident in ongoing debates, but the extent to which it will translate into comprehensive regulation remains to be seen.
The encyclical’s influence is already visible among Catholic policy experts. Anthony Granado, associate general secretary for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), said that policymakers have reacted positively to the Pope’s call. “Everyone I talked to is excited about Pope Leo and they’re excited about the Catholic Church,” Granado told the Register. He added that the Church’s voice is respected and that the encyclical provides a clear direction for regulation.
At the state level, Minnesota offers a concrete example of the encyclical’s reach. Executive director Jason Adkins of the Minnesota Catholic Conference reported that legislative staffers have asked the state chaplain to lead a study group on Magnifica Humanitas. Adkins noted that lawmakers are intrigued by the Church’s ethical framework for navigating technology.
One policy outcome tied directly to the encyclical is the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), introduced by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R‑Tennessee). KOSA requires platforms such as messaging apps, video games, and streaming services to implement safety features for minors and to give parents greater control over content. The bill also covers AI‑driven elements like algorithmic recommendations and chatbots, placing them under KOSA’s jurisdiction. Granado described KOSA as “a good start” toward guardrails on AI usage in digital spaces.
KOSA has bipartisan support, with 76 Democrats and Republicans co‑sponsoring the bill, but it has stalled in the Senate since 2025. The USCCB has urged that the legislation address the risks of AI exposing children to harmful material, citing cases where parents reported that their children were exposed to content that threatened their well‑being.
Beyond child safety, the encyclical’s call for regulation resonates with concerns about AI in the workforce. Sen. Joshua Hawley (R‑Missouri) and Sen. Mark Warner (D‑Virginia) introduced the AI‑Related Job Impacts Clarity Act in November 2025. The bill would require employers to publish reports of jobs lost to AI, a measure the USCCB says is needed to prevent displacement without adequate worker support.
The encyclical also addresses AI in warfare. According to senior ethicist Joseph Meaney of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, the use of lethal autonomous weapons (LAWS) is “ethically unacceptable.” Meaney warned that AI could target and kill individuals without human control, underscoring the need for oversight.
In healthcare, Adkins cautioned that AI tools might be used to deny coverage based on probabilistic assessments rather than human judgment, especially in insurance‑funded models. He emphasized that AI should support, not replace, human decision‑makers.
The Trump administration’s executive order, Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security, also reflects a shift toward regulation. The order requires AI companies to provide the federal government access to certain models that could pose a security risk. Granado noted that the White House is debating the order’s implications and urged the administration to heed bipartisan calls for reasonable guardrails.
State‑level actions further illustrate the encyclical’s reach. Minnesota’s Stop Harms From Addictive Social Media Act, which the Minnesota Catholic Conference supported, requires parental consent for children under 16 to create a social media account. A separate bill banning recreational use of AI chatbots for minors failed to pass the 2026 legislative session, but Adkins said the issue remains a priority.
While no federal AI regulation has yet been enacted, the encyclical’s emphasis on justice, oversight, and human dignity is shaping legislative agendas. Policymakers at both the federal and state levels are engaging with the Pope’s guidance, and several bills—such as KOSA and the AI‑Related Job Impacts Clarity Act—illustrate the growing momentum for AI guardrails.
The current situation remains in flux. Federal legislation on AI is still pending, and state laws continue to evolve. The encyclical’s influence is evident in ongoing debates, but the extent to which it will translate into comprehensive regulation remains to be seen.
