Pope Leo in Paris: A Warning Against a “Paradise of Machines” Echoes Around the World
On the first papal visit to France in nearly 20 years, Pope Leo put artificial intelligence at the heart of his message — and his words became one of the most quoted lines of the month.
When Pope Leo arrived in France on September 25 for a four-day visit, many expected a trip focused on faith and the restored Notre-Dame. Instead, the line that travelled furthest was about technology.
The warning
In his opening remarks, the Pope urged the world to reconsider how artificial intelligence is being developed, warning against a future in which a “paradise of machines” takes control. He said AI can benefit humanity but has also introduced new dangers to security and international peace, and he renewed calls for global rules on its development.
It was the first papal visit to France in nearly two decades, and the choice to centre AI made headlines across Europe and beyond.
A packed itinerary
The trip included a welcome from President Emmanuel Macron, an address at UNESCO headquarters in Paris focused on AI governance, a prayer service at Notre-Dame and stops at Lourdes and Metz. Organisers said around 600,000 people registered for an outdoor Mass in central Paris, and crowds lined the streets to see the popemobile.
The agenda also included a meeting in Lourdes with French survivors of abuse by Catholic clergy, part of the Church’s continuing effort to acknowledge past failures.
Why it resonated
The Pope’s message landed in the same week that leading technology companies were negotiating voluntary AI safety commitments in Washington. That timing — a spiritual leader and the world’s biggest tech firms both talking about AI risk — helped turn a single phrase into a global talking point.
This story was written by the Celestia Times newsroom based on the reporting linked above. Details in developing stories can change; see our corrections policy to report an error. Illustration is original artwork, not a photograph of the events described.