Pope Leo XIV delivered a stern warning against AI-directed warfare during a visit to Rome’s La Sapienza University, denouncing the technology as leading the world into a “spiral of annihilation.” According to HuffPost and PBS, the pope emphasized that military spending had increased dramatically in Europe at the expense of education and healthcare. He called for better monitoring of AI development to ensure it does not absolve humans of responsibility for their choices.
Key Takeaways
Pope Leo XIV condemned AI-directed warfare during a speech at Rome’s La Sapienza University, calling it a 'spiral of annihilation.' He also criticized rising military spending in Europe and urged investment in education and healthcare. The pope met with Palestinian students who arrived in Italy through a humanitarian corridor from Gaza.
The visit marked the first time a pope has addressed the university since Pope Benedict XVI canceled a planned speech there in 2008 due to protests from faculty and students, as reported by HuffPost. Leo was warmly welcomed by some of Sapienza’s newest students: young Palestinians who arrived in Italy this week on a “humanitarian corridor” from Gaza. The Italian government has brought hundreds of Palestinians to study and receive medical care since the Israeli war against Hamas began in 2023, according to HuffPost.
The pope’s speech also highlighted the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran as examples of the “inhuman evolution” of warfare. He urged education and research to move toward valuing life and promoting peace and justice. Leo has identified AI as one of the most critical matters facing humanity and is expected to explore these themes more fully in his first encyclical, due for release in the coming weeks.
Nada Rahim Jouda, a 19-year-old Palestinian student who met Pope Leo, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to study in Rome. She described the city as “like heaven” compared to the war-torn conditions she left behind. However, she remains deeply concerned about her family in Gaza, particularly her mother recovering from leukemia and her younger sisters aged 17 and 13.
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