Pope Leo begins to update 'just war' theory - Religion News Service
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Pope Leo XIV's AI encyclical may be quietly dismantling a 1,600-year-old ethical framework — and rewriting how the Catholic Church justifies violence in the modern age.
Just War TheoryEthics of Artificial IntelligenceNatural Law TheoryMoral Philosophy
Theory Briefing
- Pope Leo XIV's encyclical on AI appears to reject just war theory, a doctrine dating back to Augustine and Aquinas.
- The rise of autonomous weapons and AI-driven warfare makes the classic criteria for a 'just war' nearly impossible to apply.
- By challenging the moral legitimacy of modern war, the Pope is forcing a collision between ancient ethics and cutting-edge technology.