U.S. Vice President JD Vance says Pope Leo XIV’s new encyclical warning about the risks of artificial intelligence is “profound.” The Vatican published the pope’s first encyclical, titled “Magnifica Humanitas,” on Monday. The lengthy letter, described as about 42,000 words, argues that policymakers should respond to the growing availability of AI with “clarity” to develop adequate regulatory tools. Multiple outlets report Vance’s remarks on Tuesday, where he praised the pope’s message as meaningful and relevant in a rapidly changing technological environment. Coverage also notes that Vance has ties to the technology sector, including his previous work as a venture capitalist, and highlights his connections to prominent tech figures. Earlier reporting in at least one outlet notes that Vance had previously issued a warning to Pope Leo XIV after the pontiff made anti-war comments, and that his current praise comes as the Vatican releases its AI-focused manifesto. The reports agree that Vance’s comments specifically address the pope’s warning about AI’s potential harms and the need for an appropriate policy response.