Pope Francis warns technology could threaten humanity during France visit

Pope Francis warned Friday that a “paradise of machines” could undermine humanity as he opened his three‑day visit to France, raising fundamental questions about what it means to be human in the age of artificial intelligence, nuclear weapons and other existential threats. The remarks came during a ceremony at the Saint‑Sulpice cathedral in Paris and set the tone for a trip that includes meetings with President Emmanuel Macron and French tech leaders.

The warning arrives at a moment when AI is moving from research labs into everyday life, and governments are scrambling to regulate it. The European Union is finalising its AI Act, while the United Nations has warned that unchecked AI could exacerbate inequality and conflict. The Vatican has been vocal on the issue since a 2020 document called “Rome Call for AI Ethics,” which urged a “digital conscience” that respects human dignity. The French visit, the Pope’s first since 2019, is timed with a Vatican‑French dialogue on ethics and a Paris conference on AI governance, underscoring the Church’s desire to influence policy on emerging technologies.

In his address, the Pope said humanity must not surrender its dignity to algorithms that promise efficiency but erode free will. He cited the UN’s estimate that AI could add $15.7 trillion to global GDP by 2030, warning that profit should not outweigh moral responsibility. President Macron responded that France will work with the Holy See to shape AI regulations that protect human rights. Tech CEOs from Google and DeepMind sent statements urging collaboration with ethicists, while French bishops called for a “spiritual discernment” of new technologies.

The Vatican announced a commission of theologians, scientists and economists to draft an “ethical charter” for AI, to be presented at the Synod of Bishops on the Family in 2027. In France, a joint Vatican‑French advisory panel will meet next month to discuss AI, nuclear disarmament and climate change. The Pope’s remarks signal the