Vance Calls Pope Leo XIV’s AI Encyclical “Profound,” Urges Church-Led Moral Guidance

Vice President J.D. Vance on Tuesday praised Pope Leo XIV’s new encyclical cautioning against unchecked advances in artificial intelligence, calling the document "profound" and urging moral leadership as society navigates the AI era.

Vance Reacts to the Encyclical

The encyclical, the first Leo has issued since becoming pope last year, advocates restraint that does not halt technological progress but instead embodies what it calls "the exercise of responsible care for the human family." Vance, a Catholic and a supporter of AI development, told NBC News by phone that he has not yet read the entire text but has reviewed "bits and pieces" and various summaries.

"What I read of it sounds very profound, and the sort of thing that you would expect and hope from a leader of the church," Vance said. "The thing about morality is that the principles never change, but the way you apply those principles does, because the world changes."

He argued that new technologies and forms of conflict require doctrinal updates: "You have new technologies and warfare, so you have to update 'Just War' doctrine," Vance said. He described the pope’s effort as a needed reassessment of Catholic social teaching in light of contemporary realities and expressed support for the pontiff’s approach.

Anthropic Partnership Draws Attention

The encyclical was released with the participation of Christopher Olah, a co-founder of Anthropic. That association drew attention because Anthropic previously clashed with the Trump administration after the company refused the U.S. military unrestricted access to its technology, prompting orders to limit agency use of Anthropic’s services.

Book Preview and Lenten Choices

The NBC interview also served as Vance’s first public preview of his forthcoming book, Communion, due June 16 from HarperCollins, which traces his faith journey from a Protestant upbringing to atheism and, more recently, conversion to Catholicism. Vance confirmed a Semafor report that he deleted the X app from his phone for Lent, the Christian season of prayer and sacrifice that ended April 2. He has not reinstalled the app yet but plans to do so.

"Not having that as a distraction, I think, has made me much more productive," he said, noting that without constant scrolling he can actually read and focus. Vance said his account remains active and that staff sometimes publish posts he composes, but he misses direct interaction with other users, including critics. "One of the good things about social media is that it exposes you to unfiltered raw opinions, and that's something I need to hear as a political leader," he added.

Vance also described another Lenten practice: a restrictive diet he adopted on the recommendation of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., emphasizing protein and fermented foods such as yogurt and cheese. He said the change made him feel healthier and that he has kept parts of the diet.

Faith and the Vice Presidency

Baptized in 2019, Vance frequently frames his vice presidency through the lens of faith. After Joe Biden, he is the second Catholic to hold the office; his staff has emphasized that he is the first Catholic convert to serve as vice president. Vance was among the last visitors to see Pope Francis before his death and returned to the Vatican weeks later for Leo’s installation. He praised the pope's choice of name, calling it a nod to Leo XIII and suggesting Leo XIV is taking the papacy at the start of the AI age.

Vance said his background in Silicon Valley venture capital and close ties to tech leaders shape his broadly pro-innovation stance on AI, though rising public concern has made him publicly more cautious. He has urged safeguards to protect businesses and consumers from cybersecurity threats posed by new AI models.

"The technology’s rise raises profound questions about how we interact with one another, what skills we need in the workforce, and how wars will be fought," Vance said. "I think we really need moral leadership to think through those questions, and that’s exactly what the church is best positioned to provide."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.