This is a highly symbolic choice destined to mark the new pontificate. The Encyclical is dated May 15, the 135th anniversary of the promulgation of Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum, the text that gave rise to the modern social doctrine of the Church. Just as the Church then reflected on the consequences of the Industrial Revolution and the dignity of human labor, today Pope Leo XIV chooses to address a new revolution: the technological and algorithmic one, which is transforming the face of society, the economy, and human relations.

The Fratelli tutti Foundation views this document with great attention and hope, recognizing in it a historic milestone not only for the Church but for the entire international community. For some time now, in fact, the Foundation has been committed to promoting a serious and interdisciplinary dialogue on the ethics of artificial intelligence, convinced that technological progress cannot be separated from the protection of human dignity and the common good.

It was within this context that the major international roundtable on Artificial Intelligence took place during the latest World Meeting on Human Fraternity, held on September 12 and 13 in Rome. The goal was to examine the anthropological, ethical, and social implications of the algorithmic revolution: from the protection of human labor to data governance, from algorithmic transparency to the risk of new inequalities and concentrations of power.

The Roundtable’s work also gave rise to an important international document signed by scholars, technology leaders, and artificial intelligence experts from various countries and cultural traditions. The appeal states: “AI must remain under human control” and strongly emphasizes the need to prevent this technology from being used for “life-or-death decisions.” View the Roundtable’s work. 

The document also emphasizes the need to build a technological model grounded in human dignity, shared responsibility, and fraternity as a political and cultural criterion. This perspective is fully consistent with the vision of the World Meeting on Human Fraternity, which defined fraternity as “experience and relational intelligence.”
The Encyclical Magnifica humanitas also stands in full continuity with the magisterium of Pope Francis, who has brought the Church to the center of the global debate on artificial intelligence. Pope Francis had intuited before many others that the technological question concerns not only innovation, but touches the very heart of what it means to be human: work, freedom, justice, peace, and relationships.

From Fratelli Tutti to his remarks on the ethics of artificial intelligence, right up to his historic address at the G7 summit, Pope Francis’s pontificate has charted a new course: one in which technology serves humanity, rather than humanity serving technology.
This is another reason why Pope Leo XIV’s choice now appears as the natural development of a path already set in motion: an invitation to the worlds of politics, economics, science, and culture to ensure that artificial intelligence does not become a tool of inequality or domination, but rather an opportunity to build a more just, humane, and fraternal society.

The official presentation of the encyclical will take place on May 25 in the Synod Hall, in the presence of the Pope himself. The full text of Magnifica humanitas will be available on the Holy See’s official website.

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“Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you!

Welcome and thank you for being here. You have come from many parts of the world for the third World Meeting on Human Fraternity organized by Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Fratelli Tutti Foundation, the Be Human Association, and the Saint Peter for Humanity Foundation.

The world is currently marked by conflicts and divisions, which makes it all the more important that you are united by a strong and courageous “no” to war and a “yes” to peace and fraternity. As Pope Francis taught us, war is not the right way to resolve a conflict. “The willingness to face conflict head on, to resolve it and to make it a link in the chain of a new process” (Evangelii Gaudium, 227) is the wisest path, the path of the strong. Your presence bears witness to this wisdom, which unites cultures and religions, and is that silent force that enables us to recognize each other as brothers and sisters, despite all our differences.

According to Scripture, the first fraternal relationship between Cain and Abel immediately and tragically became conflictual. However, that first murder should not lead us to conclude that “it has always been this way.” No matter how ancient or widespread, Cain’s violence cannot be tolerated as “normal.” On the contrary, the norm is revealed in God’s question to the guilty party: “Where is your brother?” (Gen 4:9). It is in this question that we find our vocation, the rule and measure of justice. God does not take revenge on Cain for Abel, but asks him a question that echoes throughout the course of history.

Today more than ever, we must make this question our own as a principle of reconciliation. Once internalized, it will resonate in this way: “Brother, sister, where are you?” Where are you in the “business” of wars that shatter the lives of young people forced to take up arms; target defenseless civilians, children, women and elderly people; devastate cities, the countryside and entire ecosystems, leaving only rubble and pain in their wake? Brother, sister, where are you among the migrants who are despised, imprisoned and rejected, among those who seek salvation and hope but find walls and indifference? Where are you, brother, sister, when the poor are blamed for their poverty, forgotten and discarded, in a world that values profit more than people? Brother, sister, where are you in a hyper-connected life where loneliness corrodes social bonds and makes us strangers even to ourselves?

The answer cannot be silence. You are the answer, with your presence, your commitment, and your courage. The answer is choosing a different direction of life, growth and development.

Recognizing that the other person is a brother or sister means freeing ourselves from the pretense of believing that we are isolated individuals or from the logic of forming relationships only out of self-interest. It is not only self-interest that makes us enter into relationships. Great spiritual traditions and the maturation of critical thinking enable us to go beyond blood or ethnic ties, beyond those kinships that recognize only those who are similar and reject those who are different. It is interesting that in the Bible, as revealed by scientific exegesis, it is the most recent and mature texts that narrate a fraternity that transcends the ethnic boundaries of God’s people and is founded on a common humanity. The stories of creation and the genealogies bear witness that all peoples, even enemies, have the same origin, and the Earth, with its goods, is for everyone, not just for some.

At the heart of the Encyclical Fratelli Tutti, we read: “Social friendship and universal fraternity necessarily call for an acknowledgement of the worth of every human person, always and everywhere” (n. 106).

Fraternity is the most authentic name for closeness. It means rediscovering the face of the other. For those who believe, they recognize the Mystery: the very image of God in the face of the poor, the refugee and even the adversary.

Dear friends, I urge you to identify local and international ways of developing new forms of social charity, alliances between different areas of knowledge and solidarity between generations. These should be community-based approaches that also include the poor, not as recipients of aid, but as subjects of discernment and discourse. I encourage you to continue this work of silent sowing. This can give rise to a participatory process focused on humanity and fraternity, which is not limited to listing rights, but also includes concrete actions and motivations that make us different in our everyday lives. We need an extensive “covenant of humanity,” founded not on power but on care; not on profit but on gift; not on suspicion but on trust. Care, gift and trust are not virtues to be practiced only in one’s spare time: they are pillars of an economy that does not kill, but deepens and broadens participation in life.

I would like to thank the artists who, with their creativity, will send this message to the world from the magnificent embrace of Bernini’s colonnade. A special thanks goes to the distinguished Nobel Prize winners present, both for drafting the Declaration on Human Fraternity of 10 June 2023, and for the witness they give in international forums.

Continue to nurture the spirituality of fraternity through culture, working relationships and diplomatic action. Always carry in your hearts the words of Jesus from the Gospel of John: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (13:34). May my blessing accompany and sustain you.”

Copyright of the picture: Vatican Media.

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– The School is free of charge

– For the entire duration of the courses, the School provides flats free of charge in which the students will live together. The community dimension is indeed the added value of the experience

– Students will have lunch free of charge at the Vatican Canteen

– Classes will be held on the premises of the Fabbrica di San Pietro inside Vatican City

– The courses will last about six months, from October 2025, with compulsory attendance. There will be 600 hours of lessons, of which 200 will be dedicated to basic and specialised teaching and extracurricular activities, while 400 to laboratory practice

– Students must guarantee attendance of at least 75% of the hours set out in the teaching plan

– The School is reserved for 20 young people (female and male) between the ages of 18 and 25 that have obtained  an artistic school-leaving certificate, a technical institute diploma (for the CAT courses), a professional institute diploma (for  the Maintenance courses), an IeFP professional diploma (for the diploma for Woodworking Technician and Artistic Workmanship Technician), or a foreign qualification equivalent to the Italian one. University students who meet the requirements are also admitted

– Italian and foreign students may attend the School, provided they have a B2 level knowledge of Italian.

– To be admitted, candidates must pass a selection to verify their logical/aptitude skills and assess their motivation.

– The School will issue a Certificate of Acquired Skills upon passing a final exam

Candidates will have to formalise their application by filling in the form, which will be accessible from June 2, 2025, via a special link, from the institutional website of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and that of the Fratelli tutti Foundation.

The deadline for submitting applications for admission is August 15, 2025.

Download the brochure.

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Applicants will have to formalise their application by filling in the form, which will be accessible from June 2, 2025.

The training offer for the new semester, which will start in October 2025, offers five courses:

-stonecutters and stonemasons;

-bricklayers, plasterers and decorators;

-carpenters;

-blacksmiths;

-mosaicists.

The School combines the practical aspect with a human and spiritual component, with an integral approach that embraces all dimensions of the person. In fact, the students will also share the accommodation provided free of charge by the Fabbrica for the entire duration of the courses, with a view to fostering the community and relational dimension as well.

How to participate – The School is reserved for 20 young people between the ages of 18 and 25 in possession of an artistic diploma, a technical diploma (with reference to the CAT courses), a professional diploma (with reference to the Maintenance courses), an IeFP diploma (with reference to the diploma for Woodworking Technician and Artistic Workmanship Technician), or a foreign qualification equivalent to the Italian one. University students who meet the requirements are also admitted.

Discover more.

Download the brochure.

Fill in the form to formalise your application.

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During the meeting, which featured speakers Father Francesco Occhetta, Secretary General of the Fratelli tutti Foundation, and Dr. Enrico Giovannini, scientific director of ASviS, the need for a choral commitment to address global challenges was shared and fraternity, starting with the meaning it takes on in the current context, was identified as an engine for social and cultural change. Indeed, it emerged how fraternity can be an effective response to contemporary crises, promoting solidarity, inclusion and cooperation. The speakers stressed the importance of building relationships based on trust and mutual respect, which are fundamental for the sustainable progress of communities.

Father Occhetta also recounted how the Fratelli tutti Foundation is working towards this end by promoting three major projects and initiatives. First and foremost is the World Meeting on Human Fraternity, which has already been held in the previous two years and will be repeated next September 12 and 13, with the aim of understanding what the principle of fraternity can implement in terms of reforms, by what metrics to measure it, and understanding what makes us human today.

He also took the opportunity to recall the “Vocabulary of Fraternity,” a book promoted by the Foundation that involved 365 people of different ages, professions, cultures and faiths, who were asked to choose and explain one word each with the intention of creating a new language that can rewrite the meaning of values such as humanity and, indeed, fraternity.

Father Occhetta also emphasized the recently signed agreement between the Foundation and the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI), aimed at promoting a culture of collaboration and integration among all public actors, especially municipalities, to build a network inspired by the principle of fraternity. The aim is to encourage the creation of local working tables involving the various social players in the area, including associations representing citizens and the third sector, in order to carry out concrete actions for the common good. This is a significant step toward building a more inclusive and supportive society, in which fraternity becomes a central element of public policies. He also highlighted the importance of involving young people in this process, recognizing the pedagogical and civic value of the commitment required by the role of municipal administrator and promoting the exercise of active and responsible citizenship as a tool for political education and social responsibility toward others.

To learn more about the topics covered and hear testimonies from participants, you can view the full video of the event on ANSA’s official channel: Click here (in Italian)

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On Tuesday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m., the meeting entitled «At Corinth: Eros and Agape» will be held at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Guest of the evening will be journalist and writer Massimo Gramellini. He will be in charge of the conclusions after a spiritual reflection by H.Em. Card. Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of St. Peter’s Papal Basilica and President of the Fratelli tutti Foundation, and the lectio by H.Em. Card. Gianfranco Ravasi, Founder of the Cortile dei Gentili.

To participate, it is necessary to register at this link

Lectio Petri – Paul is the series of meetings organized by the Courtyard of the Gentiles Foundation and the Fratelli tutti Foundation to explore – with an eye to the present – the figure of Paul.

Prominent personalities from the world of culture, entertainment, media and institutions will dialogue with Card. Ravasi and will offer their secular point of view in light of the themes that emerged in the readings.

The evening will also be enriched by some moments of musical meditation.

As a reminder, the second edition of the initiative gave birth to the podcast series available in multiple episodes. Listen to them

The previous meeting of this new Lectio Petri cycle, held on October 22, featured Silvia Avallone, writer, as guest speaker. (Watch the full video)

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Prominent personalities from the world of culture, entertainment, media and institutions will dialogue with Card. Ravasi and will offer their secular point of view in light of the themes that emerged in the readings.

The evening will be enriched by moments of musical meditation.

As a reminder, the second edition of the initiative resulted in the podcast series available in multiple episodes. Listen to them

Click here to see the dates of the 2024-2025 meetings

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Saranno presenti in sala la giornalista Hana Namdari e Elaheh Tavakoliyan, attivista iraniana ferita durante le proteste seguite al caso di Mahsa Amini, la 22enne curda morta mentre era in custodia della polizia per aver indossato male il velo obbligatorio.

Holy Spider è ispirato a fatti realmente accaduti nella città santa iraniana di Mashhad, dove un serial killer uccise 16 donne, per lo più prostitute. Spider è un uomo comune divenuto killer a partire da una lettura fondamentalista della realtà; la storia è raccontata dal punto di vista della giornalista Rahimi che arriva da Teheran per scrivere un articolo sull’assassino seriale.

Il film del 16 dicembre si aggiunge a Mia di Ivano De Matteo, Contro l’ordine divino di Petra Volpe, Quo Vadis Aida? di Jasmila Zbanic, i primi quattro film dedicati alla complessità della realtà delle donne nei diversi ambiti dell’esistenza.

La seconda sezione di Fratello cinema, organizzato dai frati francescani del Cineforum Seraphicum e dalla Fondazione Fratelli tutti – con il patrocinio di Roma Lazio Film Commission e il supporto di Lucky Red distribuzione, prenderà il via a gennaio e racconterà il tema dell’ecologia e dell’ambiente.

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Le pazienti oncologiche, accompagnate dalla dottoressa Simona Carloni e da Suor Rolanda Sabellaga, hanno avuto modo di raccontare la loro esperienza e sottolineare l’importanza di iniziative come quella di ieri, che si è conclusa con una visita immersiva nelle bellezze della Basilica.

La strada è curare insieme, con approccio olistico, il corpo e la mente oltre le mura dell’ospedale. Un inno alla vita e alla ricerca della bellezza, nell’esperienza del quotidiano, nonostante le difficoltà.

Le donne del centro di Senologia dell’Ospedale San Giovanni sono testimonianza viva che un percorso di malattia può essere affrontato con coraggio e con lo sguardo rivolto al domani. Sempre al loro fianco il primario del reparto, il dottor Lucio Fortunato, la d.ssa Carloni, Suor Rolanda e tutta l’equipe di medici che quotidianamente offrono loro cure, supporto e speranza.

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L’appuntamento è per martedì 21 novembre dalle 15 alle 18 e 30. L’evento – che la Fondazione Fratelli tutti promuove – è organizzato dalla Pontifica Università Gregoriana.

Il colloquio si propone di mettere in luce il legame tra la fede e la carriera politica di Julius Nyerere, primo presidente della Tanzania tra il 1964 e il 1985, come esempio della nuova politica sostenuta da Papa Francesco.

Cattolico impegnato, sostenitore dell’importanza e dell’impegno sociale della Chiesa, Nyerere lottò per uno sviluppo incentrato sulla persona, si batté per il riscatto delle classi sociali più povere e sostenne – in un Paese come la Tanzania – il profondo rispetto per i diritti umani e la pace interreligiosa.

Nel 2005 il vescovo Justin Samba della diocesi di Musoma e la Conferenza episcopale della Tanzania hanno chiesto alla Santa Sede di dichiarare Nyerere santo. Nello stesso anno, Papa Benedetto XVI dichiarò Julius Kambarage Nyerere “Servo di Dio”.

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