The release of the most recent papal encyclical by Pope Leo XIV Magnifica Humanitas has created much commentary. While it was initially heralded as a papal encyclical on artificial intelligence (AI), it goes well beyond a commentary on AI and delves into the dignity of the human person, hence its name Magnifica Humanitas.

While acknowledging the enormous impact that AI is having on our global community through its capacity to assist in the advancement of medicine, education and socialisation, the encyclical names the darker inhumane impacts of its use in warfare and the destruction of innocent life and entire communities. The capacities of AI are far reaching in creating extraordinary connections between people and their capacity to build up humanity, and on the other hand the negative impacts it could have by increasing isolation and withdrawal from relationships, ultimately diminishing a person’s life.

This Pope has shown his courage to proclaim the gospel in its lived expressions in daily life. His constant mantra of building peace, of creating places of dialogue where stark differences can be worked through, thereby respecting the right of every person to live with dignity, has become his raison d'être. It is at the heart of the gospel that a new creation can be experienced by all. However, this requires a change of heart in our society and culture that easily leans towards individualisation of personal needs over those made poor by the impact of globalisation and consumerism.

How “to begin a shared discernment process for identifying the spiritual and cultural roots of ongoing transformations” (§6)? Surely this begins in our communities and our families. In creating contemplative spaces in our lives, opportunities arise to reflect more deeply on the disturbance we all experience at some time or other. Being disturbed may not be negative but in itself stirs us to pay attention to the inner turmoil and to wonder what is causing this? How is it impacting my relationships? How can I return to being centred and grounded in order to live a balanced life?

“Building a city founded on the common good implies, first and foremost, building on a firm relationship with God.” (§11) As consecrated religious, this is at the heart of who we are and how we live. It is in this life that we are provided the time and space to be centred and have a contemplative stance to the world. Our community provides the source of inspiration to work towards the common good of all in how we minister in our day-to-day activity, be it on public transport, in the market place, sitting with another community member who needs us, reaching out in our various ministries to those we are sent to serve : “building a world where everyone can flourish” (§13).

An astonishing example of such an engagement could be seen in Pope Leo’s visit to Spain in recent days. This included an encounter with 600,000 youth in Plaza de Lima where he sat and listened intently to some young people’s testimony of their lives and the questions with which they are grappling. Pope Leo responded to them urging them to be ‘sparks of a new humanity’ and rejecting a superficial way of living. He emphasised the importance of seeking justice and living an honest life while challenging them to embrace silence amid the noisy and busy world in which they find themselves. He encourages them to seek that deeper awareness where they can find a place to be still and know that they are loved for who they are as a human person in the eyes of Divine Love itself.

As consecrated religious we too have the privilege of sharing this same space with people desiring to find peace in their lives. Through encounter with us do they come away knowing more deeply their dignity as a wonderful human and does that encourage them to be disciples of peace?

While we may feel powerless at times as we watch the screens before us, seeing the horror of inhumanity, we can affirm another way that attests to the Kingdom being amongst us. “It is the pursuit of the common good that gives life to a people (§ 62).” Let us be engaged in this pursuit!

Br Gerard Brady CFC,

President, Catholic Religious Australia