Pope Leo XIV warns AI-directed warfare could trigger a dangerous arms 'spiral'

Pope Leo XIV used a visit to Rome’s Sapienza University on May 14 to sharpen one of the defining themes of his pontificate: the moral limits of artificial intelligence. In a speech at the university’s Great Hall, Leo said investment in AI and high-tech weaponry was pushing conflicts toward what he called a “spiral of annihilation.” He tied that warning to current wars, naming Ukraine, Gaza and the Palestinian territories, Lebanon and Iran. (press.vatican.va) The appearance was also notable for another reason: it was the first papal visit to the campus since Pope Benedict XVI canceled a planned 2008 appearance after protests. (wprl.org) ### What exactly did Leo say about AI and war? Leo said the growing link between war and new technology was already visible in current conflicts. (usnews.com) In remarks reported from the Sapienza visit, he said events in Ukraine, Gaza and the Palestinian territories, Lebanon and Iran showed “the inhuman evolution of the relationship between war and new technologies in a spiral of annihilation.” He also called for tighter oversight of how AI is developed and used in both military and civilian settings, saying it must not remove human responsibility for decisions. Military spending was another target in the speech. Leo said arms outlays had risen sharply this year, especially in Europe, while resources that could go to education and health care were being diverted elsewhere. (press.vatican.va) He said that pattern was enriching elites “who care nothing for the common good,” according to AP’s account of the address. ### Why was Sapienza the setting for this warning? Sapienza University scheduled Leo’s visit for the morning of May 14, with stops at the campus chapel, the rectorate and the Great Hall, according to the Vatican press office program. Rector Antonella Polimeni was listed to welcome him, and the schedule included greetings with students and faculty as well as the unveiling of a commemorative plaque. (wprl.org) The university also provided a wartime backdrop to the pope’s remarks. AP reported that some of Sapienza’s newest students were young Palestinians who had arrived in Italy through a humanitarian corridor from Gaza, and Leo met some of them at the chapel and again after his speech. (wprl.org) ### How does this fit into Leo’s broader AI agenda? Leo has been signaling for months that AI will be a central subject of his papacy. In his first formal address to the College of Cardinals in May 2025, he said the church had to respond to “another industrial revolution” and to developments in artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for human dignity, justice and labor. (press.vatican.va) In a January 24 message for the 60th World Communications Day, Leo warned about deepfakes, digital fraud and algorithmic systems that manipulate thought and deepen inequality. That message said people must learn to use AI intentionally and protect their image, face and voice from misuse. (wprl.org) ### What do we know about his first encyclical? The Vatican said on May 16 that Leo signed his first encyclical on May 15, exactly 135 years after Pope Leo XIII signed “Rerum Novarum,” the foundational social encyclical that addressed labor and industrial-era capitalism. According to AP, the new text is expected to address artificial intelligence through the church’s social teaching, with emphasis on human dignity, social relationships and peace. (vaticannews.va) Outside reports before that announcement had said the document would focus on artificial intelligence, international peace and international law, and that publication had slipped beyond May 15. The Vatican’s own public line as of May 16 was that release was expected in the coming weeks. (vatican.va) ### Did Leo connect this to other justice issues this week? Leo used a separate Vatican audience on May 15 to reject the death penalty in the fight against drugs and organized crime. Speaking to participants in an OSCE-linked conference, he said respect for the dignity of every person, including those who have committed crimes, rules out “the use of the death penalty, torture, and every form of cruel or degrading punishment.” (usnews.com) That address also stressed the rule of law, prevention and rehabilitation. Leo said criminal justice and crime prevention had to work together, and he called for medical, psychological and social support for people suffering from addiction. (infovaticana.com) ### What comes next from the Vatican? The Vatican said Leo’s encyclical is expected to be released in the coming weeks after he signed it on May 15. That document is set to become the clearest official statement yet of how Leo wants the church to address artificial intelligence, peace and human dignity. (usnews.com) (vaticannews.va)