Pope Leo XIV has placed the human impact of artificial intelligence at the centre of his first official visit to France, warning against allowing technological progress to come at the expense of human dignity.
The Pope arrived in Paris on Friday, September 25, beginning a four-day visit that will also take him to Lourdes and Metz. He met President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace before beginning a series of engagements in the French capital.
In remarks during the visit, Leo warned about the risk of “losing our humanity amid a paradise of machines”, highlighting concerns over the rapid development of artificial intelligence and its implications for society.
Huge Paris Mass Awaits Pope
The visit is expected to attract large crowds, with more than 600,000 people registered for an open-air Mass at the Place de la Concorde and along the Champs-Élysées on Saturday.
Leo is also scheduled to visit Notre-Dame Cathedral and meet young people during his stay in Paris before travelling to Lourdes and later Metz.
Macron is not expected to attend the papal Mass, reflecting France’s strict separation between church and state. His wife, Brigitte Macron, and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu are among those expected to attend.
The Pope’s visit comes as the Catholic Church continues to address the legacy of clerical sexual abuse in France. Leo is also expected to meet privately with survivors during his time in Lourdes.
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