Pope Leon XIV warns of the risk of a ‘paradise of machines’ dominated by AI
At the Élysée Palace, Pope Leon XIV centered his first speech in France on artificial intelligence and called for the preservation of human dignity in the face of technological progress.
Pope Leon XIV warned on Friday, September 25, 2026, at the Élysée Palace, against a “paradise of machines” that could invade and shape daily life. Speaking before Emmanuel Macron, French authorities, and the diplomatic corps, he called for training minds in ethical discernment to ensure that technological progress respects human dignity and fundamental freedoms.
This statement marks the beginning of a four-day visit to Paris, Lourdes, and Metz, the first state visit by a pope to France in 18 years. It extends Magnifica Humanitas, his first encyclical published in May, in which he demands a robust framework for artificial intelligence and urges developers to serve the common good rather than mere profit.
The pontiff also warned that science and technology, when not guided by ethical reflection, can meet immediate expectations while diverting humanity from the common good. He called for the protection of life and fundamental rights to accompany technological transformations.
On the issue of international security, Leon XIV called for a ban on nuclear weapons. He stated that peace does not rest on a balance of power but is built through dialogue and justice, before urging France to defend multilateralism.
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