TL;DRPope Leo XIV denounced AI-directed warfare as a “spiral of annihilation” during a historic visit to Rome’s La Sapienza University on 14 May 2026. He criticised European defence spending increases at the expense of education and healthcare, and called for tighter monitoring of AI in military and civilian use.
Pope Leo XIV used a historic visit to Europe’s largest university to denounce the growing role of artificial intelligence in warfare, warning that investments in AI-directed weaponry are driving the world toward what he called a “spiral of annihilation.” Speaking at Rome’s La Sapienza University on Wednesday, the pontiff called for tighter monitoring of how AI is developed and deployed in both military and civilian settings, and criticised European governments for increasing defence budgets at the expense of education and healthcare.
The address marked the first papal visit to La Sapienza since Pope Benedict XVI cancelled a planned speech at the campus in 2008 after protests from faculty and students. Leo received a warm reception. Among those greeting him were 72 young Palestinians who arrived in Italy this week from Gaza through a humanitarian corridor organised by the Diocese of Rome, the Sant’Egidio Community, and the university. They will continue their studies at Sapienza on full scholarships, with accommodation, academic tutoring, and psychological support provided through 2029.
