Pope Warns Against AI-Directed Warfare, Calls for Military Spending Cuts
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday denounced investments in artificial intelligence and high-tech weaponry as driving the world into a "spiral of annihilation," calling instead for military spending to shift toward education and healthcare.
Speaking at Rome's La Sapienza University, the pope said military budgets had surged this year across Europe while enriching elites unconcerned with the common good. He specifically cited conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran as evidence of how new technologies were making warfare increasingly inhuman.
"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," Leo said.
The visit marked the first papal appearance at La Sapienza since Pope Benedict XVI canceled a planned speech there in 2008 after protests from faculty and students. Leo was welcomed warmly on Thursday, including by Palestinian students who arrived in Italy this week through a humanitarian corridor to study at the university.
AI Oversight and Responsibility
The pope called for stronger monitoring of how AI is developed and deployed in military and civilian applications. He emphasized that AI systems must not remove human responsibility for decisions or worsen the consequences of conflict.
Leo identified AI as one of the most pressing issues facing humanity. He plans to address the topic more fully in his first encyclical, expected within weeks.
Palestinian Students Find Refuge in Rome
The Italian government, working with Catholic organizations, has brought hundreds of Palestinians to Italy for study and medical care since the 2023 Israeli war against Hamas in Gaza began.
Nada Rahim Jouda, 19, arrived in Italy two days before meeting the pope. She is studying business science in Rome and described the city as "like heaven for me" after living through Gaza's displacement and conflict.
Jouda's family remains in Gaza. Her mother is recovering from leukemia and has been unable to receive cancer care or checkups during the war. Her younger sisters are ages 17 and 13.
"They all rely on me. I'm the only hope that they have," Jouda said.
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