Pope Leo XIV warns of AI and weaponry leading to global annihilation
Pope Leo XIV warns of AI and weaponry leading to global annihilation
Publish Date: 2026-05-14 08:32:00
Source Domain: apnews.com
- Pope Leo XIV denounced investments in artificial intelligence and high-tech weaponry as leading the world into a “spiral of annihilation” during a speech at Rome’s La Sapienza University.
- It was the first time a pope had visited the campus since Pope Benedict XVI cancelled a planned visit in 2008 due to protests.
- The pope called for peace in the Middle East, specifically referencing the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
- He criticized the increased military spending and its impact on education and healthcare systems, especially in Europe.
- Leo also called for better monitoring of AI development and usage, advocating that it must not absolve humans of responsibility or exacerbate conflicts.
- The pope met with young Palestinian students who arrived via a “humanitarian corridor” to continue their studies in Italy amid the Gaza conflict.
- Leo identified AI as a critical matter for humanity, particularly its application in warfare, which he will explore further in his upcoming encyclical.
