Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz has chosen a notably introspective—and spiritual—approach to his holiday reading, selecting Pope Leo’s encyclical on artificial intelligence, *Magnifica Humanitas* (Magnificent Humanity), for his summer break. The 70-year-old leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), who has faced a series of political challenges since assuming office 14 months ago, is reportedly spending much of his vacation within Germany.
*Magnifica Humanitas*, released earlier this year, is the first major papal text to focus on the ethical implications of AI. It urges stringent moral constraints on the development and application of artificial intelligence, presenting it as one of the most significant threats to humanity. Merz, himself a Roman Catholic, has maintained a relatively private stance on personal faith, making this choice of reading particularly telling amid his current difficulties.
Since taking office, Merz has positioned artificial intelligence as both a major challenge and an opportunity for Germany’s economy, which has witnessed stagnation over the past several years. He has called for streamlined European Union regulations to encourage innovation and prevent bureaucratic obstacles from limiting AI’s potential. In an April speech, Merz highlighted Germany’s leadership in industrial AI applications and emphasized the technology’s capacity to enhance productivity and economic growth.
At the same time, Merz has acknowledged widespread public anxiety about AI’s possible impact on jobs and daily life, emphasizing the need to harness the technology responsibly. “The question, however, is not whether we want AI or not,” he said. “AI is here and is already being put to practical use. It is now up to us to decide what happens in this transformation.”
Merz’s holiday reading comes at a turbulent moment for his government. In recent weeks, internal conflicts have intensified following the resignation of Jens Spahn, the CDU parliamentary group leader, after revelations that he and his husband had a child via a surrogate in the United States—a practice illegal in Germany and opposed by the CDU. Spahn’s departure triggered Germany’s most extensive cabinet reshuffle in decades, which unfolded chaotically amid last-minute ministerial withdrawals and reshuffled responsibilities.
The resulting political turmoil has sparked speculation about Merz’s leadership stability, with some observers questioning whether he will remain in office through the end of the year. This uncertainty is compounded by the approaching state elections in September, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is expected to make significant gains.
Against this backdrop, Merz’s selection of a reflective, ethically grounded papal text may indicate a desire to contemplate broader moral questions amid the immediate pressures of political life. Ironically, one German newspaper noted that another book in his reading pile was a political satire titled *Ship of Fools*, underscoring the sense of upheaval currently gripping the German government.