Pope Leon XIV warns of the risk of a ‘paradise of machines’ dominated by AI

This statement marks the beginning of a four-day visit to Paris, Lourdes, and Metz, the first state visit by a pope to France in 18 years. It extends Magnifica Humanitas, his first encyclical published in May, in which he demands a robust framework for artificial intelligence and urges developers to serve the common good rather than mere profit.

The pontiff also warned that science and technology, when not guided by ethical reflection, can meet immediate expectations while diverting humanity from the common good. He called for the protection of life and fundamental rights to accompany technological transformations.

On the issue of international security, Leon XIV called for a ban on nuclear weapons. He stated that peace does not rest on a balance of power but is built through dialogue and justice, before urging France to defend multilateralism.