Why Leo’s First Encyclical Went Viral and How It Speaks to His Papal Approach

LOS ANGELES: Shortly after Pope Leo “I love my woke pope (I’m not even Catholic),” the caption read.

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Such reactions to Leo’s first encyclopedia, “Magnifica Humanitas,” have proliferated online since its publication last week. This enthusiasm is partly driven by the perception, especially among young people, that few political or global leaders grasp or take seriously the known and potential consequences of the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. Leaders have worked to adapt to the tech industry, often citing the need for economic growth, and critics say they have cozyed up to wealthy CEOs along the way.

“People are really looking for an answer to artificial intelligence,” said Isabel Thurston, a 27-year-old comedian from Boston. “This was the first world leader, at least in my world sphere, to make an announcement of this magnitude.”

History’s first US-born pope has shown a willingness to embrace aspects of contemporary culture. He was recently seen wearing Nike sneakers under his robes, and in his encyclical Leo quoted the wise wizard Gandalf from the “Lord of the Rings” series by Catholic author JRR Tolkien.

Robert Orsi, professor of religious studies and history at Northwestern University, said of Leo’s encyclical: “It is clear that this was written by an American pope. There is a breathing spirit in this document, which emphasizes individual freedom, human happiness and human dignity.” “Sometimes I thought the language really matched the Declaration of Independence.”

This specific cultural fluency may help explain some of his viral moments as a leader of the ancient faith.

Just weeks earlier, a group of young people visiting the Vatican had persuaded the 70-year-old pontiff to perform a viral hand gesture on camera known as the 6-7 meme; This was a meaningless “brain rot” joke among teenagers. Although it is clear in the video that the pope, like most adults, does not understand what they are asking of him or the importance of it, he does it anyway and is greeted with enthusiastic cheers. A week later, he did it again as he smiled and waved to the crowd from the car.

The portrait that emerges from these examples is both playful and deliberate. Throughout “Magnifica Humanitas,” the Pope reiterates that it is the responsibility of the church to engage with contemporary questions and challenges.

Leo wrote about the Catholic Church: “Its mission has a historical scope and requires a responsibility for the way social relations are constructed.” “It cannot see itself as alien to the forces that shape society. On the contrary, the Church actively participates in the processes of growth and organization of society.”

Since his election last year, Leo has made a point of engaging in direct conversation with, and sometimes criticizing, aspects of society, from politics to entertainment to sports.

Pope Francis, Vatican II and other preludes Orsi examines the relationship between Catholicism and modernity, which he says have often been historically at odds with each other. He said Leo’s encyclical and his broader papacy, like his predecessor Pope Francis, were heavily informed by the still-polarizing Second Vatican Council, which brought modernizing reforms to the church more than 60 years ago.

Orsi said of Leo’s encyclical: “It speaks to the modern world with the voice of Vatican II. So it is not a voice of condemnation, but of respect.” “Pope Francis was, in a sense, the necessary beginning of this kind of encyclical. I think Francis gave a really strong incentive to have a clear critical voice on these pressing questions.”

That doesn’t mean Leo’s approach doesn’t have its critics. Some criticized his decision to present his circular alongside Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah. The Vatican decided to include the tech company as part of its decade-long effort to engage Silicon Valley in dialogue about the human cost of artificial intelligence.

In the nearly 42,300-word document, the pope warns all “men and women of good will” not to be afraid to “get their hands dirty on the ‘construction site’ of our time.”

This willingness has sometimes led to measured but quite public rebukes of policies, actions and leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and the ongoing war in Iran. Some conservatives, including Vice President J.D. Vance, a Catholic convert, invoked the concept of “just war” theory in response to Leo’s criticisms.

Church teaching has long permitted “just wars,” the use of force to stop an unjust attack, as long as certain conditions are met. However, Leo directly addressed this doctrine in his encyclical, calling it “outdated”. “Humanity has far more effective and capable tools, such as dialogue, diplomacy, and forgiveness, to advance human life and resolve conflicts,” he wrote.

From Hollywood to baseball: American culture at the Vatican Last November, the pope hosted a “World of Cinema” day at the Vatican with actors and filmmakers including Cate Blanchett, Viggo Mortensen, Gus Van Sant and Spike Lee, who gifted Leo a special New York Knicks jersey with the number 14 and the name Papa Leo on the back.

“Cultural facilities such as cinemas and theaters are the beating hearts of our communities because they contribute to making them more human,” Leo told the Hollywood audience. “The logic of algorithms tends to repeat what ‘works’, but art opens the door to what is possible.”

He also doesn’t shy away from his love for the Chicago White Sox; sometimes wearing baseball caps or posing with bats; the latter inspiring a subgenre of Leo memes. “POV: you are a priest who just asked ChatGPT to write his Sunday sermon,” Pastor Harrison Ayre wrote on X, along with a photo of Leo smiling while holding the baton.

Shortly after “Magnifica Humanitas” was published, Thurston, a Catholic, posted a video of himself and a friend drinking margaritas while meticulously examining and discussing the printed pages of the encyclical. It reached more than 3 million views on Instagram.

“One of the aspects that made it really enjoyable for me to see the video go viral was to show that all Catholics or ex-Catholics or neighboring interested parties really celebrate what Pope Leo said in his encyclical,” he said.

Orsi said this strategy comes at a crucial time for the Catholic Church, after years of reckoning with a legacy of clergy sexual abuse. “I think a lot of people who have moved away from the church are now saying, ‘Wait, maybe the church has something to say to the modern world,'” he said.