Pope Leo XIV has warned that artificial intelligence must remain focused on human dignity, telling UNESCO in Paris that technology should not become a tool of domination or injustice. His remarks came during a four-day visit to France, where he also addressed war, international cooperation, children’s safety and the protection of human life.
The speech placed artificial intelligence at the centre of a wider argument about the direction of modern societies. The Pope said technological progress should strengthen human relationships and responsibility rather than reduce people to their economic usefulness.
Pope Leo XIV’s warning about artificial intelligence
Speaking at UNESCO headquarters, the Pope said new technologies must “remain at the service of the human person”. He cautioned that AI could contribute to a process of dehumanisation if it weakens human ideas, relationships and respect for individual dignity.
He also criticised the growing tendency to assess people according to efficiency and productivity. In his view, treating efficiency as the main measure of a person’s value risks marginalising those who are no longer considered productive.
The remarks add to the Pope’s continuing focus on artificial intelligence. In May, he published his first encyclical, Magnifica humanitas, which examined risks associated with unchecked AI development and called for stronger oversight.
Children need stronger safeguards
Child safety was another central theme of the address. Pope Leo XIV said that young people’s vulnerability must never be turned into an opportunity for exploitation.
His comments come as European policymakers debate how to reduce online harms affecting children. The European Commission’s proposed Kids Act has attracted attention because it could include measures affecting social-media access for children under 13. The proposal remains part of the broader European discussion about age assurance, platform responsibility and online safety.
Any future EU measures would need to pass through the relevant legislative process before becoming binding law. The Pope’s intervention therefore adds moral and social pressure to an existing policy debate rather than announcing a new European rule.
Technology, war and the need for international cooperation
The Pope linked the debate over AI to the wider risks created when scientific progress is separated from wisdom. Referring to UNESCO’s founding message that peace must be built in the minds of people, he argued that technology can become destructive when it is detached from ethical responsibility.
He also addressed ongoing conflicts, including the war in Ukraine and violence in the Middle East. Without proposing a specific diplomatic initiative, he called for renewed trust in international institutions and dialogue between countries.
International organisations, he said, are needed to manage challenges that no single state can resolve alone. At the same time, he acknowledged concerns about their effectiveness, particularly when dialogue is treated as an obstacle rather than a route towards agreement.
The speech took place amid wider tensions over multilateral cooperation. The United States has announced its withdrawal from UNESCO, with the decision due to take effect in December 2026. The Pope’s appeal for international trust consequently carried significance beyond the immediate discussion of artificial intelligence.
Meeting with Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée Palace
Earlier on Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Pope Leo XIV at the Elysée Palace. The meeting included diplomatic representatives, emergency workers involved in the Notre-Dame fire and figures from different religious communities.
During his remarks, the Pope reaffirmed the importance of the right to life, describing it as the foundation of every other human right. The issue has been politically sensitive in France, where the constitution was amended in 2024 to protect access to abortion and a law concerning assisted dying was passed earlier in 2026.
The Pope also reiterated the Vatican’s opposition to nuclear weapons. He challenged the belief that nuclear deterrence alone can provide a solution to international insecurity.
Why the speech matters for Europe
The address did not create new EU legislation, but it intersects with several active European policy debates:
- AI regulation: European institutions are implementing a risk-based framework intended to govern artificial intelligence while protecting fundamental rights.
- Child protection online: EU policymakers are considering how platforms should prevent exploitation and limit exposure to harmful content.
- Human dignity: The Pope’s argument reflects wider European discussions about employment, automated decision-making and discrimination.
- International cooperation: His comments highlighted the role of multilateral institutions during periods of conflict and geopolitical tension.
- Peace and security: The warning about scientific progress and weapons relates to Europe’s continuing debates about war, nuclear deterrence and strategic stability.
For Ireland and other EU member states, the practical implications will depend on decisions made through EU institutions and national governments. The Pope’s speech is best understood as an ethical intervention that may influence public debate, not as a legal decision affecting member states.
What happens next?
Pope Leo XIV continued his visit with a parade through Paris, evening prayers at Notre-Dame Cathedral and a vigil with young people at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
European discussions on AI regulation and children’s online safety will continue separately through the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. Any proposed measures must complete the appropriate approval process before they can apply across the EU.
The central message from UNESCO was clear: technological progress should be judged not only by what it can do, but also by whether it protects human freedom, dignity and relationships. Pope Leo XIV’s intervention places those principles at the heart of Europe’s continuing debate about artificial intelligence.
