Magnifica Humanitas: Choosing Humanity in the AI Revolution
October 30 @ 10:30 am – October 31 @ 5:00 pm EDT
— A Symposium on Putting Pope Leo’s “AI Encyclical” into Practice
October 30-31, 2026 (Fri/Sat), 10:30am – 5:00pm
Father Madden Hall (in Carr Hall, 100 St. Joseph St)
Free admission / Lunch included: Register now
How do we maintain our humanity and agency in a world that increasingly revolves around AI?
From workplaces to social media feeds, from breakthroughs in healthcare research to that question you Googled last night, AI seems to be permeating every aspect of our lives. But as the ways we think, work, live, and act are being rapidly transformed, how do we protect and nurture those parts of our humanity that matter most—our dignity, our agency, our creativity and moral commitments?
Join us as we discern our stakes in the current AI revolution through the lens of Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo’s “AI encyclical.” Through two days of panels, discussions, and workshops, we will explore how the Pope uses Catholic social teaching to engage with the structural realities of AI, and consider our own practical responses to his call to prioritise human dignity over unrestricted AI development.
By asking practical questions about AI in light of Magnifica Humanitas, this symposium will help us engage critically and faithfully with changing technologies in our own lives, work, and service to the world. Whether you are new to the conversation and wanting to learn more or are already confronting pressing issues around AI, we welcome you to join us in this timely dialogue on navigating the emerging AI frontier.
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Magnifica Humanitas Online Reading Group
Monday evenings (7-8pm) from Sep. 14-Oct. 19
Are you interested in Pope Leo’s “AI encyclical,” but daunted by the thought of reading it alone? Have you been tempted to ask ChatGPT for a summary? Join us instead for this virtual reading group and explore the encyclical in conversation with others. Over 6 weekly sessions, Dr. Ren Ito will facilitate discussions of each chapter of Magnifica Humanitas. Participants will build an understanding of the encyclical’s key arguments, and will learn to engage with current issues of new technology through the lens of Catholic social teaching.
Participants will also have the opportunity to present reflections on and takeaways from the encyclical during a session of our October 30-31 Magnifica Humanitas symposium.