Pope Leo XIV has issued a stark warning regarding the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in military operations, describing the delegation of life-and-death decisions to machines as a “destructive betrayal” of the principles that uphold human civilisation.
The 70-year-old pontiff, the Catholic Church’s first U.S. pope, delivered the warning in his first message for World Peace Day, published on Thursday ahead of the official celebration on January 1.
The Delegation of Death to Machines
The Pope expressed deep concern over how political and military leaders are using technology to shirk moral responsibility in the heat of conflict.
“Further technological advances and the military implementation of artificial intelligence have worsened the tragedy of armed conflict,” he stated. “There is even a growing tendency among political and military leaders to shirk responsibility, as decisions about life and death are increasingly ‘delegated’ to machines.”
He argued that this trend represents an unprecedented betrayal of the legal and philosophical principles of humanism that safeguard global society.
Ethical Dilemmas in Modern Warfare
Since his election in May 2025, Leo XIV has repeatedly advocated for the ethical use of AI. His latest message specifically targets the automation of:
- Autonomous drones
- Cyber defence systems
- Anti-missile systems equipped with predictive algorithms
These technologies, according to the Vatican, raise serious ethical dilemmas that threaten the sanctity of human life.
Denouncing the Weaponisation of Religion
In addition to his warnings on AI, the Pope denounced the “increasingly common” practice of using religion for political or nationalist ends.
“Unfortunately, it has become increasingly common to drag the language of faith into political battles, to bless nationalism, and to justify violence and armed struggle in the name of religion,” he said.
He further critiqued the concept of nuclear deterrence, calling it an “irrationality of relations between nations” built on fear and domination by force rather than on law, justice, and mutual trust.
Source: Africa Publicity
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