Pope Leo XIV opened his first state visit to France with a stark warning about artificial intelligence, telling political leaders in Paris that a "paradise of machines" threatened to undermine humanity itself.
The American-born pope raised existential questions about what it means to be human in the age of AI, nuclear proliferation and other threats to life during an opening address to President Emmanuel Macron and French authorities at the Elysée Palace on Friday. He later repeated the themes before diplomats and United Nations employees at UNESCO headquarters.
Leo said scientific progress cut off from wisdom could turn destructive, drawing on the lessons of the Second World War. In remarks reported by Vatican News, he said: "If we are to avoid losing our humanity amid a 'paradise of machines' invading and conditioning our daily lives," there is an urgent need for education in ethical discernment and the ability to recognise moral good.
He argued that while the name "intelligence" is increasingly applied to computational systems, the dignity of human persons is judged by criteria of efficiency — and people deemed no longer productive are rejected and discarded. Education and ethical judgment, he said, are urgently needed to shape a better future as the technology takes root in daily life.
A call for peace
Beyond AI, the pope reaffirmed the Vatican's opposition to nuclear weapons, calling the nuclear deterrence doctrine "mistaken" and warning that it was fuelling a new arms race. "Peace is not a balance of power; rather, it is built day by day through dialogue and justice," he said.
A historic visit
Leo's four-day trip is the first official state visit by a pope to France in 18 years, a notable moment in a country where the Catholic Church's influence on ethical debates has waned under strict secularism enshrined in the constitution. Thousands of people lined his motorcade route waving French and Holy See flags, with some braving hours of unseasonable heat. The pope also led an evening prayer service at Notre Dame, rebuilt after the 2019 fire. Macron said the visit brought "a source of hope" to many French people, adding: "France stands on the side of peace, effective multilateralism, respect for international law and the United Nations Charter."
Sources:
Pope warns a 'paradise of machines' could undermine humanity on his France visit (NPR/AP)
Pope Leo XIV Urges France to Defend Human Dignity, Peace (Vatican News)
AI could create a 'paradise of machines,' Pope Leo warns (Fast Company)
The American-born pope raised existential questions about what it means to be human in the age of AI, nuclear proliferation and other threats to life during an opening address to President Emmanuel Macron and French authorities at the Elysée Palace on Friday. He later repeated the themes before diplomats and United Nations employees at UNESCO headquarters.
Leo said scientific progress cut off from wisdom could turn destructive, drawing on the lessons of the Second World War. In remarks reported by Vatican News, he said: "If we are to avoid losing our humanity amid a 'paradise of machines' invading and conditioning our daily lives," there is an urgent need for education in ethical discernment and the ability to recognise moral good.
He argued that while the name "intelligence" is increasingly applied to computational systems, the dignity of human persons is judged by criteria of efficiency — and people deemed no longer productive are rejected and discarded. Education and ethical judgment, he said, are urgently needed to shape a better future as the technology takes root in daily life.
A call for peace
Beyond AI, the pope reaffirmed the Vatican's opposition to nuclear weapons, calling the nuclear deterrence doctrine "mistaken" and warning that it was fuelling a new arms race. "Peace is not a balance of power; rather, it is built day by day through dialogue and justice," he said.
A historic visit
Leo's four-day trip is the first official state visit by a pope to France in 18 years, a notable moment in a country where the Catholic Church's influence on ethical debates has waned under strict secularism enshrined in the constitution. Thousands of people lined his motorcade route waving French and Holy See flags, with some braving hours of unseasonable heat. The pope also led an evening prayer service at Notre Dame, rebuilt after the 2019 fire. Macron said the visit brought "a source of hope" to many French people, adding: "France stands on the side of peace, effective multilateralism, respect for international law and the United Nations Charter."
Sources:
Pope warns a 'paradise of machines' could undermine humanity on his France visit (NPR/AP)
Pope Leo XIV Urges France to Defend Human Dignity, Peace (Vatican News)
AI could create a 'paradise of machines,' Pope Leo warns (Fast Company)