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Hello, I'm Maggie Murray of OSV News, and this is your OSV Newscast for Tuesday, May 26th, 2026. Let's catch you up on the Catholic News of the Day. Here we go. Following the release of Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical yesterday, the nation's Catholic bishops are calling the document Essential Reading for the Digital Age. The document, titled Magnifica Humanitas, applies Catholic social teaching to the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence, anchoring the entire discussion in the irreplaceable dignity of the human person. Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the USCCB, called it a powerful reminder that no technology can replace a child of God, and all technology should be placed at the service of helping humanity thrive. Archbishop Nelson Perez of Philadelphia said the encyclical brings crystal clarity that the sanctity of human life must remain paramount. Bishop Michael Martin of Charlotte framed the document not as a lament about progress, but as our pontiff calling humanity to live into its best expression for the common good, while never disregarding the importance of the person. Mexico's bishops added that emerging technologies can become allies of human dignity when oriented toward the common good. He also raises alarm over AI's significant environmental impact, calling for sustainable solutions to offset the industry's heavy drain on energy and water. David Kershoffer of Australian Catholic University told OSV News that all AI development needs built-in human oversight to ensure moral accountability, warning that blindly trusting algorithms risks driving society toward mediocrity and a loss of human excellence. The antidote, he said, isn't regulation alone. It's championing education that values genuine human intelligence, creativity, and critical thinking. His bottom line echoed the encyclical's own urgency. Humanity cannot afford to destroy itself, Kirschhofer said. Every AI developer and user should seek to use their human ingenuity to find solutions that will enable the benefits of AI without the costs. As many as 1,500 pilgrims attended the opening leg. Nine perpetual pilgrims will now travel the St. Francis Xavier Cabrini route up the East Coast for six weeks, carrying the Eucharist, which Catholics believe to be Jesus Christ truly present in his body, blood, soul, and divinity, all the way to Philadelphia over the 4th of July holiday weekend. Pilgrims said they set out praying for a softening of hearts toward the Eucharist, greater unity within the church, and when one described as a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The pilgrimage concluded its opening day with overnight Eucharistic adoration at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine. Sailors, fishermen, and maritime workers often spend months at sea, far from home and largely out of sight, but this past weekend, the church paused to honor them. Seattle Auxiliary Bishop Frank Schuster celebrated the annual Maritime Day Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., following the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Mariners and all people of the sea. Bishop Schuster, who serves as a bishop promoter for Stella Maris, the church's global maritime ministry, highlighted the network's mission to provide Mass, sacraments, transportation, internet access, and places of rest for seafarers while they are in port. In his homily, he pointed to Jesus' words in Matthew 25, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Many seafarers work in difficult conditions, he said, driven by the hope of a better tomorrow. Though they may feel forgotten, Bishop Schuster assured them they are not. Not by God, not by Mary, and not by the church. Pope Leo formally established Stella Maris as an official canonical entity within the church last November. Uruguay's bishops announced this week there is a high probability that Pope Leo XIV will visit the country in late 2026 as part of a broader South American tour that could also include Argentina and Peru. In a May 21st statement, Uruguayan church leaders said no official dates have been set, but discussions are moving forward with hope towards its realization. Reports suggest the trip could take place in November or December. Argentine officials have also strongly hinted at a visit, while Peru, where Poplio served for years as a missionary and bishop and later became a naturalized citizen, appears to be a near certainty. Church observers say the Pope could return to Chiclayo, where local officials are already preparing for a possible stop. Poplio twice served as an Augustinian missionary in northern Peru during the 1980s and 90s, returned in 2015 when Pope Francis named him Bishop of Chiclayo, and became a Peruvian citizen during that time.com. Thanks so much for listening and God bless. This has been an OSV News production. To learn more, visit osvnews.com.