MANILA (July 22) — Filipino-American journalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa has highlighted the relevance of Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas in confronting the growing ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI).
Ressa, co-founder and chief executive officer of Rappler, made the remarks while participating in the Global Nobel Laureates Assembly on Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear War in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome.
The gathering brings together more than 200 Nobel laureates, experts, university representatives and global leaders to discuss the responsible use of AI, the protection of human dignity and the pursuit of peace in an increasingly technology-driven world.
Inspired by the Holy Father’s encyclical, the assembly explores how rapid advances in AI and other emerging technologies are reshaping societies—and raising urgent questions about ethics, human rights and the future of humanity.
For Ressa, the discussion underscores the need to place people at the center of technological progress.
The assembly echoes the Catholic Church’s continuing call for technology to serve humanity, protect the dignity of every person and advance the common good.
The discussions come amid growing global concern over the impact of AI on democracy, information integrity, employment and human relationships, as governments and technology companies race to develop increasingly powerful systems.
The gathering also highlights the need for international cooperation and shared ethical principles to ensure that AI becomes a tool for human flourishing rather than a source of greater inequality, conflict or harm.
For the Philippines, where Ressa has long warned about the impact of disinformation and technology on democracy, the global conversation carries particular significance.
The assembly’s message is clear: as humanity enters an age shaped by increasingly powerful technologies, innovation must be matched by responsibility—and progress must never come at the expense of human dignity and peace.
