Pope Leo has warned that humans risk losing part of what makes them human as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly involved in everyday life.
The first American pope made AI one of his first subjects after arriving in France on Friday for a four-day visit, his first to the country as pontiff.
Speaking at the Elysee Palace, Leo warned against allowing technology to create what he called a “paradise of machines” that increasingly controls people’s lives.
He called for greater ethical judgement around AI, an issue he has repeatedly raised since becoming pope last year.
Leo has argued that AI could bring real benefits, but has also warned about its potential impact on jobs, human relationships and international security.
His concerns aren’t limited to technology. France presents the pope with several difficult issues during the trip.
The Catholic Church is still dealing with the fallout from decades of sexual abuse in the country. A major independent investigation in 2021 estimated that around 330,000 children had been abused by clergy or other people connected with the French Church over seven decades.
Leo is due to meet seven abuse survivors in Lourdes on Sunday. France’s assisted dying law is another point of disagreement.
The legislation allows some adults suffering from serious and incurable illnesses to seek help to end their lives, something the Catholic Church strongly opposes.
Still, AI has taken a particularly prominent place in Leo’s papacy.
During a speech at UNESCO later Friday, he also questioned whether international institutions were still capable of dealing with global problems as countries increasingly put their own interests first.
For Leo, AI is quickly becoming one of those problems.
His argument isn’t that machines are about to take over tomorrow.
It’s that humans need to decide how much control they are prepared to give them before that decision is made for them.
2026-09-25 20:59:00
