Pope Leo XIV Urges Caution on AI, Dismisses Health Rumors
Pope Leo XIV calls for AI disarmament and clarifies health rumors in Vatican. Explore the Pope's stance on technology and health.
POLICY WIRE — Vatican City, Vatican — Pope Leo XIV has made a strong call for the responsible use of artificial intelligence, emphasizing that decisions impacting human life should never be entrusted to machines. In a recent address, the Pope underscored the importance of human oversight in AI applications.
The Pope stated that AI should never be considered a substitute for human personhood. ‘AI can never be a person; its future depends on our choices,’ he said, highlighting the ethical dimensions of AI development and deployment.
In a significant statement, Leo XIV urged the international community to ‘disarm’ AI as discussions about autonomous weapons intensify. ‘Machines are tools, not persons,’ the Pope declared, reinforcing the principle that technology must serve humanity, not supplant it.
On 25 October 2026, Vatican officials also dismissed reports suggesting that Pope Leo XIV would undergo immunotherapy treatment. This denial is part of a trend, as health rumors about previous popes, including John Paul II, Francis, and Benedict XVI, have often been denied or disproven over the past two decades.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
