Pope warns against 'losing humanity' to AI machines
Pope Leo XIV began his four‑day visit to France by warning that humanity risks being lost amid a “paradise of machines,” delivering the remarks to Church and state officials at the Élysée Palace after an hour‑long meeting with President Emmanuel Macron. The pontiff, who has previously called for AI to be “disarmed” in the first major teaching document of his papacy, framed the danger in moral terms, likening the potential exploitation of people by technology to the historic slave trade. His warning set the tone for a high‑profile trip that will culminate in a massive Mass on Saturday on the Place de la Concorde, where an altar has been erected and the surrounding Champs‑Élysées sealed off for an expected crowd of more than half a million worshippers.
The visit underscores a broader debate in France over the role of religion in public life and the country’s strict secularism. While Macron hailed the Pope’s presence as a “great honour” and emphasized that French secularism does not exclude religion from the public sphere or education, he will not attend any of the Pope’s Masses to respect the separation of church and state. Tensions have emerged over ceremonial expectations, with reports that Macron wanted a more elaborate reception—including a cavalry escort and a meeting with Notre‑Dame artisans—that the Vatican declined, citing a tight schedule. The Pope’s itinerary also includes meetings with migrants in Paris, a tribute to EU founder Robert Schuman in Metz, and a gathering of 80,000 young people at the Stade de France, reflecting both his pastoral outreach and the political interest of several French presidential candidates who plan to attend the Paris Mass.
Beyond the immediate diplomatic and religious symbolism, the Pope’s AI warning arrives as France grapples with declining Catholic affiliation—regular worshippers have fallen from 35 % in 1960 to under 5 % today—yet recent years have shown a resurgence in religious interest, with adult baptisms more than doubling to 10,000 in 2025. The Pope’s emphasis on “authentic secularity” that embraces religion in public discourse may influence ongoing debates about religious symbols, education, and the ethical regulation of emerging technologies. His messages, delivered against the backdrop of large public gatherings and high‑profile political attendance, could shape both French public opinion and broader European discussions on balancing technological advancement with human dignity.
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