Pope Leo XIV used a speech at UNESCO's Paris headquarters to warn that artificial intelligence and emerging technologies must remain at the service of people rather than becoming instruments of domination and injustice. The intervention came during his four-day trip to France and addressed the growing tension between technological progress and human dignity — a debate that's become increasingly urgent as AI systems reshape labour markets and social relationships across Europe.
Delivering his remarks in both French and English, the pontiff said AI risks impoverishing human "ideas and relationships" through a "process of dehumanisation." He criticised the growing emphasis on productivity in modern societies, warning that judging people according to the "criterion of efficiency" risked undermining respect for human dignity and could lead to those who are no longer productive being rejected and discarded.
Safeguards for Children
The Pope said emerging technologies must offer adequate safeguards for children. He warned that the "vulnerability" of young people must "never become an opportunity for exploitation." The comment reflects mounting concerns across European capitals about children's exposure to unregulated digital platforms and AI-driven content — an area where national governments have struggled to keep pace with Silicon Valley innovation.
Addressing war and UNESCO's founding motto, the Pope said that "since wars begin in the minds of women and men, it is in the minds of women and men that the defences of peace must be constructed." He said humanity has come to realise that scientific progress, when it's severed from wisdom, can turn into a weapon of destruction.
International Cooperation Under Strain
The Pope acknowledged that international institutions are viewed "with mixed feelings." On the one hand they act as bodies that tackle challenges that "no single state can face alone," while also "undergoing a crisis of effectiveness, especially when dialogue is seen as an obstacle to action." He called for greater "trust," saying: "Trust that differences do not necessarily pose a threat. Trust that sincere dialogue can bring about a greater good than what each person could achieve alone."
The comments came as international cooperation faces growing political tensions. In July 2025, about 1 year and 2 months ago, the Trump administration announced its decision to withdraw from UNESCO, describing the organisation as "woke," culturally divisive and "out-of-step" with the policies supported by Americans who voted the US President in. The decision is set to take effect in December 2026, in about 2 months.
Nuclear Deterrence and Right to Life
Earlier in the day, French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the Pope to the Elysée Palace, alongside diplomatic authorities, firemen who intervened during the Notre-Dame-de-Paris fire and representatives from various religious authorities. During his address, the pontiff reaffirmed the importance of the human right to life, calling it "the indispensable foundation to every other human right." He also addressed the global situation by reaffirming the Vatican's staunch opposition to nuclear weapons, calling out the "mistaken belief" that nuclear deterrents provide solutions.
After his UNESCO speech, the pontiff travelled in his popemobile for a parade through Paris, before Vespers at the Notre-Dame-de-Paris cathedral and a major evening prayer vigil with young people at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
Why This Matters:
The Pope's intervention highlights a question European policymakers can't avoid: who controls the direction of AI development, and in whose interest? The EU has taken the lead globally with its AI Act, but implementation will test whether Brussels can balance innovation with safeguards — or whether regulation becomes another competitive handicap for European firms competing against less-regulated American and Chinese rivals. The pontiff's warning about productivity-driven societies speaks to a broader anxiety across Europe: that economic efficiency has become the sole measure of human worth, leaving behind those who don't fit the model. It's a concern that transcends left and right. The US withdrawal from UNESCO underscores the fragility of multilateral institutions at a time when Europe needs them most. If transatlantic cooperation continues to fracture, European nations will need to decide whether they can defend their values and interests alone — or whether they're willing to accept the terms set by Washington and Beijing.