German chancellor Friedrich Merz is reportedly taking Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical on artificial intelligence, *Magnifica humanitas*, on holiday as he faces historically low popularity and political turmoil. The choice highlights the tension in Merz’s approach to AI: he sees it as vital to Germany’s economic recovery, while the Pope’s text calls for strict ethical limits on a technology it portrays as a major threat to humanity.

Merz has argued that AI could raise productivity after years of economic stagnation, but has acknowledged public fears about job losses and disruption. His reading comes after the resignation of CDU parliamentary leader Jens Spahn over a surrogacy controversy, followed by a chaotic cabinet reshuffle; Merz also faces September state elections in which the far-right AfD may perform strongly.