Pope Leo XIV warns AI must not erode human dignity

Pope Leo XIV has warned that artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies could undermine humanity by changing how human worth is judged. Speaking during his four-day visit to France, the pope described AI as a “paradise of machines” that could invade and condition daily life. He called for education in ethical discernment and said scientific progress should not become a profit-driven force promoting genetic manipulation, surrogacy, organ trading or the possibility of arranging one’s death.

The remarks came during addresses to President Emmanuel Macron and French authorities at the Élysée Palace and to diplomats and United Nations employees at UNESCO. The pope has made AI one of the central concerns of his pontificate and devoted his first encyclical to the issue. Leo said computational systems were increasingly described as intelligent while the dignity of people was being assessed through efficiency.

He warned that people could be rejected or discarded when considered no longer productive. The pope told reporters that he was encouraged that technology developers were listening to his message. He said he hoped discussions with companies would continue and that developers wanted AI to remain a tool for people rather than displace or destroy humanity.

He also reaffirmed the Vatican’s opposition to nuclear weapons, calling the doctrine of nuclear deterrence mistaken because it was contributing to a new arms race. The visit was the first official papal trip to France in 18 years. Leo argued that secularism should not exclude religion from public life or education.

The Vatican estimated that about 300,000 people came out to see him in Paris on Friday, including worshippers at a stadium gathering where he prayed and referred to the “saints of France”.