From Francis to Leo XIV: A Scoping Review of Papal Teachings on AI from Pope Francis to Pope Leo XIV and Their Implications for Health Ethics and Governance.

In May 2026, Pope Leo XIV issued the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, reaffirming the Church's commitment to addressing the ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI), particularly concerning human dignity, accountability, justice, and human-centered care. This study conducts a scoping review of magisterial documents, papal messages, speeches, and Vatican statements on AI from Pope Francis to Pope Leo XIV using the PRISMA-ScR framework. The review traces the evolution of Catholic AI ethics, identifying recurring principles of human dignity, the common good, solidarity, subsidiarity, responsibility, and integral human development for the past eleven (11) years. Based on these themes, the study proposes a Catholic framework for healthcare AI ethics to guide the ethical design, implementation, and governance of AI in clinical practice and public health, contributing to interdisciplinary scholarship on religion, healthcare, and artificial intelligence.