Pope Leo XIV has warned about the dangers of artificial intelligence, cautioning against “losing our humanity amid a paradise of machines.”
As reported by BBC on Thursday, the pontiff issued the warning at the start of his four-day visit to France, during remarks to Church and state officials at the Élysée Palace in Paris following talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Pope Leo highlighted the growing influence of artificial intelligence and the need to ensure that technological progress does not come at the expense of human values and dignity.
His remarks came as he began a visit expected to draw large crowds across France, with the main event scheduled for Saturday when more than half a million people are expected to attend Mass in Paris.
An altar has been constructed at the Place de la Concorde, while security measures have been introduced around the Champs-Élysées and surrounding areas ahead of the event.
The Pope was welcomed at Orly airport by Macron after arriving in France on Friday. He is also scheduled to travel through Paris in his popemobile, with large crowds expected along the route to Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Macron is not expected to attend the Pope’s Masses because of France’s strict separation between church and state. His wife, Brigitte Macron, and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu are expected to attend the Saturday service.
Several prominent French political figures, including Marine Le Pen, Edouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal and Bruno Retailleau, are also expected to attend.
Reports of tensions between the French presidency and the Vatican over arrangements for the visit have been dismissed by Élysée officials.
Officials said France had offered the Pope a range of ceremonial events traditionally provided to visiting heads of state. However, Pope Leo declined Macron’s proposal for a meeting with artisans involved in the reconstruction of Notre-Dame Cathedral, with Vatican officials citing a tight schedule.
Following his visit to Notre-Dame on Friday, Pope Leo is expected to meet about 80,000 young people at the Stade de France in northern Paris.
On Sunday, about 150,000 people have registered to attend Mass at the Catholic sanctuary of Lourdes in the Pyrenees.
The Pope will conclude his visit on Monday in Metz, northeastern France, where he will pay tribute to Robert Schuman, a founding figure of the European Union and a devout Catholic who is currently a candidate for beatification.