Pope Leo XIV in Paris: Why His Warning on AI Matters
Pope Leo XIV warned in Paris on 25 September 2026 that artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies could undermine humanity. Al Jazeera
He issued the warning on the opening day of an apostolic journey to France set for 25 to 28 September 2026. An apostolic journey is the formal name for a pope's official trip. Thousands gathered in Paris to welcome him. It was his first visit to France. It was the first official state visit by a pope in 18 years.
The day began with a speech to President Emmanuel Macron and authorities at the Elysee Palace. Macron received Leo XIV at the palace on Friday, 25 September 2026. The Elysee listed the event as the apostolic voyage of Pope Leo XIV in France. Elysee The Vatican dates that Elysee Palace address in Paris to Friday, 25 September 2026. It publishes the English text as 'Meeting with the Authorities, Address of Pope Leo XIV'. Vatican
In that address, Leo XIV cited France's "deep Christian roots" and support for human rights while warning about scientific progress and artificial intelligence. CBC He said technology "must remain at service of humans." The Guardian He described artificial intelligence as a "paradise of machines."
Later on 25 September, he spoke to diplomats and United Nations staff at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. There he spoke about nuclear weapons as well as rules for technology. He said the doctrine of nuclear deterrence, the policy of keeping nuclear weapons to discourage attack by fear of response, was "mistaken." He said it was heightening a new arms race.
His earlier language on AI has been direct. He warned that AI systems spread misinformation, or false information shared at scale. Reuters He warned that AI systems prioritize conflict and could lead to unending war. His first encyclical, a formal letter from a pope to the Catholic Church, focused on artificial intelligence. In it, he called for strong regulation, like traffic rules for a fast and crowded road.
The Vatican itinerary for Friday, 25 September 2026 was Rome - Paris - Saint-Denis - Paris. The itinerary for Saturday, 26 September 2026 included Paris - Lourdes. On 25 September, Leo XIV led a prayer vigil with young people at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis.
The broader context here is about institutional position, not only pastoral travel. By placing an appeal for AI rules before a head of state and then before diplomats from many countries on the same day, Leo XIV linked national laws and international standards. UNESCO is the UN body for education, science and culture. The Elysee gave him direct access to a nuclear-armed state and a power in European regulation.
Looking at what this means for diplomacy, two threads will bear watching. The first is whether the encyclical becomes a reference in AI governance debates, where the Holy See has observer status, a voice without a vote, but holds moral influence. The second is the pairing of AI and deterrence. Vatican opposition to nuclear weapons goes back many years. Coupling that position with warnings about automated misinformation and conflict frames both as questions of human control over technical systems. That framing may find support among diplomats negotiating dual-use technologies, tools that can serve civilian or military uses, even where views on deterrence differ sharply.
