Pope warns a 'paradise of machines' could undermine humanity as he opens France trip
Pope Leo XIV began a four-day visit to France, warning that an over-reliance on technology and machines could threaten human dignity. He also addressed geopolitical tensions, criticizing nuclear deterrence as a failed doctrine for peace.
Why it matters
The Pope's intervention in secular French politics and his stance on AI and nuclear weapons reflect the Vatican's evolving role in modern ethical debates.
Pope Leo XIV warned Friday that a "paradise of machines" risked undermining humanity as he opened a trip to France by posing fundamental questions about what it means to be human in the age of artificial intelligence, a nuclear arms race and other threats to life itself.
Leo raised existential concerns about scientific progress, life and human rights during his opening speech to President Emmanuel Macron and authorities at the Élysée Palace and then to diplomats and United Nations employees at the headquarters of UNESCO, the U.N. culture and education organization.
With wars plaguing Europe and the Middle East, he reaffirmed the Vatican's opposition to nuclear weapons and said the nuclear deterrence doctrine was "mistaken" since it was just fueling a new arms race.
"Peace is not a balance of power; rather, it is built day by day through dialogue and justice," he said.
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5 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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