Pope decries the rise of AI-directed warfare, saying it leads to a spiral of annihilation

Key Points:

• Pope Leo XIV condemned the rising investments in artificial intelligence and high-tech weaponry, warning they are driving the world toward a “spiral of annihilation,” and called for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine during his visit to Rome’s La Sapienza University.
• This marked the first papal visit to La Sapienza since Pope Benedict XVI canceled a planned speech in 2008 due to protests, and the pope was warmly welcomed, including by young Palestinian students recently brought to Italy from Gaza for education and medical care.
• Leo criticized the sharp increase in military spending, especially in Europe, which he said comes at the expense of education and healthcare, and called for stricter oversight of AI development to ensure human responsibility and prevent escalation of conflicts.
• The pope emphasized that education and research should prioritize valuing life and peace, highlighting ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran as examples of the destructive relationship between war and emerging technologies.
• Among the Palestinian students meeting the pope was 19-year-old Nada Rahim Jouda, who expressed gratitude for the opportunity to study in Rome but remains deeply worried about her family’s safety and health amid the Gaza war.