Pope Leo XIV's May 2026 encyclical directly targets technological messianism during heightened AI speculation. The document references primary Vatican texts to reject technology as redemptive, echoing critiques in prior papal writings on human limits. It highlights ethical risks in AI deployment without institutional safeguards, citing specific passages on hubris in automated decision systems. Coverage in The Economist (https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/05/28/leos-first-encyclical-attacks-technological-messianism) omits ties to 2024 UNESCO AI ethics guidelines and 2023 Vatican AI statements, which similarly stress accountability gaps. Analysis of these sources reveals patterns of institutional resistance predating current hype cycles, including parallels with industrial-era overpromises documented in historical church records. The encyclical's focus on cultural implications extends beyond tech policy to challenge assumptions in global AI governance frameworks.