Pope Leo XIV on Thursday expressed concern over the increasing use of artificial intelligence in warfare, arguing that the technology sets up a moral dilemma for humanity. The pontiff’s warning came during a speech at Rome’s La Sapienza University, in which he called for expanded oversight over AI being developed and used in the military “so that it does not absolve humans of responsibility for their choices and does not exacerbate the tragedy of conflicts.” Leo, the first American pontiff, is expected to issue a similar admonition in his first encyclical set to be released on Friday, according to Axios. “What is happening in Ukraine, in Gaza and the Palestinian territories, in Lebanon, and in Iran illustrates the inhuman evolution of the relationship between war and new technologies in a spiral of annihilation,” he said, voicing unease that investments in AI and high-tech weaponry are fueling conflicts across the world.
The pontiff’s address at Europe’s largest university follows some public squabbles with the Trump administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit with Leo in Rome earlier this month appeared to smooth over some tensions, with the State Department later touting “the strong relationship between the United States and the Holy See and their shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity.”
