Summer is usually seen as the time for fast-paced thrillers and easy, mindless page-turners—the kind of beach reads that end up sandy and stained with sunscreen. But that’s not the case for Friedrich Merz’s holiday reading list.
Germany’s embattled chancellor, who has faced one setback after another since taking office 14 months ago, seems to be looking for spiritual guidance this year while he relaxes.
According to the conservative newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the Christian Democratic Union leader is bringing Pope Leo’s encyclical on artificial intelligence, Magnifica humanitas (Magnificent humanity), on his vacation.
Introduced by the Guardian in May as “the first major text on safeguarding humankind of his papacy,” the encyclical argues for the “most rigorous” ethical limits on the advance of technology, calling AI the biggest threat to humanity.
[Image: Pope Leo XIV, right, at the presentation of his first encyclical, Magnifica humanitas. Photograph: Alessandra Tarantino/AP]
As one of the world’s 1.4 billion Roman Catholics, Merz tends to keep his beliefs private, so his beach reading says a lot.
The historically unpopular 70-year-old politician has described AI as both a challenge and an opportunity for Europe’s largest economy after seven years of stagnation. He has also called for streamlined EU rules to prevent red tape from stifling its potential.
In a speech in April, he said Germany was one of the world’s leading nations in using AI, especially in industry. Merz said he was counting on its power to boost productivity and prosperity, even as support for the far right grows.
Despite the “euphoria” in some circles about how machines can change the way we live, Merz noted that many Germans fear AI’s ability to eliminate jobs and disrupt lives.
“The question, however, is not whether we want AI or not,” he said. “AI is here and is already being used in practice. It’s up to us to decide what happens in this transformation.”
It’s perhaps fitting that Merz would choose to grapple with life’s big moral questions while on holiday, which he is reportedly spending mostly in Germany.
His latest troubles began two weeks ago when the ambitious head of his CDU parliamentary group, Jens Spahn, announced that he and his husband had welcomed a baby born via a surrogate in the US.
[Skip past newsletter promotion]
This move seemed hypocritical given the CDU’s strong opposition to surrogacy, which is illegal in Germany, and Spahn resigned within days. His departure triggered Germany’s biggest cabinet reshuffle since the early 1960s.
The shake-up orchestrated by Merz was chaotic, with one designated minister pulling out at the last minute, leaving the sitting official he was supposed to replace hanging until he finally stepped down to preserve his own “dignity.”
The messy proceedings have sparked intrigue worthy of a political thriller, with talk of a “palace revolt” against Merz and speculation about whether he will last in office until Christmas. After returning to Berlin, Merz will face three state elections in September, where the far-right AfD could see record results.
With the impression of disarray taking hold, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung couldn’t resist noting that another title on Merz’s book pile was a novel called Ship of Fools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the German Chancellor choosing the Popes AI encyclical as holiday reading
Beginner Questions
1 What is an encyclical
Its a formal important letter written by the Pope to all Catholics about a major topic Think of it as a very serious policy paper from the Vatican
2 What does the Popes AI encyclical say
The letter called Algoritmi et Fraternitas argues that AI must be developed with a focus on human dignity ethics and the common good It warns against using AI to spread disinformation or make biased decisions
3 Why is this a big deal for the German Chancellor
It shows that world leaders are taking AI ethics very seriously Choosing a heavy philosophical text over a fun thriller suggests the Chancellor is studying the moral and political impact of AI not just its technology
4 Did the Chancellor actually read it on vacation
Yes the Chancellors office confirmed it was her holiday reading It was widely reported in German media
5 Is the Pope the only one talking about AI
No but the Vatican is one of the most influential global voices on ethics The Chancellor reading this signals she values that moral perspective alongside technical advice
Advanced Questions
6 What specific AI risks does the encyclical highlight
It focuses on the algorithm of suspicionhow AI can create social distrust It also warns about the black box problem and the potential for AI to replace human judgment in critical areas like justice and warfare
7 How does this compare to the EUs AI Act
The EUs AI Act is a legal framework The encyclical is a moral framework The Chancellor reading it suggests shes looking for the ethical why behind the legal how
8 Why not read a thriller Isnt this boring
A thriller is about fast action The encyclical is about slow thinking The choice implies the Chancellor believes the longterm risk of unregulated AI is a bigger thriller than any fictional plot
9 Does this mean Germany will change its AI policy
Not directly but it
