Magnifica Humanitas

This website is a resource for studying Pope Leo XIV’s groundbreaking 2026 encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, On safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence.

We begin by presenting the encyclical itself as Pope Leo himself and a panel of experts did on Monday 25 May 2026. Plus a series of online resources.

And we add a simple see judge act action guide of our own to accompany you through the document step by step.

Please note that it’s an action guide for small groups and parishes, who wish to act on the issues raised by Pope Leo. The discussion questions we propose are simply starters for your own reflection and action.

Note also that it’s not an academic reading guide to an encyclical that is sure to be studied from many angles for years and decades to come.

And in time, perhaps, we will be able to publish a more academic guide to Pope Leo’s masterwork on this website.

Stay with us on this journey!

Stefan Gigacz

Editor

The Australian Cardijn Institute hosted a webinar on Wednesday 10 June 2026 focusing on Pope Leo’s new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence.

Speakers were Malaysian AI entrepreneur, Premesh Chandran, co-founder of the online news site, Malaysiakini, and of Asia Mobiliti, a tech company working on transport solutions, and Catholic Social Teaching, Fr Bruce Duncan CSsR.

Respondent was Melbourne biblical scholar, Stuart Moran, an expert on the Book of Nehemiah, quoted by Pope Leo.

Our speakers

Premesh Chandran

Premesh Chandran is the co-founder of Malaysiakini, Malaysia’s most popular independent news website, as well as Asia Mobiliti and Awatar, both innovative platforms in the mobility and AI sectors.

He has also served as Executive Director of Open Society–Asia Pacific, where he provided the organisation with a nuanced understanding of the social, economic, and political factors that drive change across the region, coupled with an entrepreneurial and problem-solving approach grounded in his business experience. He has expertise in new media and technology and understands the importance of analytics in shaping strategy.

Prior to joining the Open Society Foundations, Prem spent more than two decades successfully leading efforts to protect and promote free speech and independent journalism in Malaysia. He is the co-founder and former CEO of Malaysiakini.com, Malaysia’s most popular independent news website. Despite operating in a challenging political environment, he oversaw the expansion of Malaysiakini’s readership to more than 8 million people in English, Malay, Chinese, and Tamil.

Prem also co-founded Asia Mobiliti, a technology company focused on improving public transportation and logistics. He is a TED senior fellow and has served as a business coach to more than 60 companies. In 2010, he received the Asia Foundation’s Chang-Lin Tan Fellowship.

Fr Bruce Duncan CSsR

Bruce Duncan was ordained a Redemptorist priest in 1971. He studied economics and political science at the University of Sydney so he could pursue his deep interest in Social Justice. During this time he was one of the founding editors of National Outlook magazine.

He was a member of the Melbourne Catholic Commission for Justice, Development and Peace (1994-2007), and a consultant with Catholic Social Services Victoria (1998-2007).

Beginning in 1986, he taught at Yarra Theological Union and coordinated the program in social justice studies until his retirement in 2021.

Bruce was also one of the founders of the advocacy organisation, Social Policy Connections, and of the Yarra Institute for Religion and Social Policy.

Respondent

Biblical scholar, Stuart Moran, an expert on the Book of Nehemiah, quoted extensively by Pope Leo, will respond to Prem’s and Bruce’s presentations.