Pope Leo XIV Warns on AI's Risks to Humanity During First France Visit

Pope Leo XIV began his first papal visit to France on Friday, September 25, 2026, marking the first such visit by a pope in 18 years. During the trip, he delivered a speech warning against a 'paradise of machines' and cautioned that society risked 'losing humanity' amid rapid scientific and AI development, raising concerns about implications for life and human rights. The AI-focused address was delivered in connection with a visit to UNESCO, according to coverage of his itinerary, which also included a formal welcome at the Élysée Palace, meetings with civil society and the diplomatic corps, a walk through Paris, and a visit to the restored Notre Dame Cathedral. BBC News and NPR both reported the substance of his warning about technology's threat to humanity, though specific quoted language varied slightly between outlets. The Guardian's live coverage detailed the day's schedule but did not independently confirm the exact content of the AI speech beyond noting it was planned for the afternoon. Separately, in early September 2026, Pope Leo XIV returned to the Sanctuary of Our Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, south of Rome, where he had prayed following his election. He unveiled a new fresco depicting that moment and celebrated Mass with fellow Augustinian brothers, as reported by ABC News and CBS News. It remains unresolved whether this sanctuary visit is directly connected to the France trip or represents a separate, unrelated event given the differing publication dates. Full details of the AI speech's content and any policy implications discussed at UNESCO were not fully corroborated across all sources.