Pope Leo XIV has called on global leaders to prevent artificial intelligence from making decisions about human lives, the use of weapons, or interfering with individual freedom. Speaking to experts at the Vatican on October 30, he warned that algorithmic decision-making risks reducing people to mere entries in a database. He urged countries preparing to meet in Geneva in November to take concrete steps toward banning lethal autonomous weapons. The Pope also demanded effective international rules, independent oversight, and clear accountability for damage caused by AI.
Machines Must Not Decide Between Life and Death
The Pope addressed experts at an event entitled “The Future of Artificial Intelligence: A Dialogue Between the Vatican and the Scientific Community on Developing and Using Intelligent Technologies.” The conference, held in the Apostolic Palace, was organized by the Pontifical Academy for Life and the Future of Life Institute.
In his speech, Leo XIV emphasized that while technological progress brings great opportunities, it also raises increasingly serious questions about human dignity. He noted that, although there is broad consensus on the desired direction for AI development, not enough is currently being done to enforce these principles.
He specifically highlighted situations in which algorithms are given authority over issues of life and death, individual freedom, or the application of force. Examples include adding people to lists of potential military targets or to border control databases.
In such cases, according to the Pope, an individual can be reduced to nothing more than a data entry, without real consideration for their unique circumstances. Therefore, decisions with serious consequences must remain under effective, informed, and responsible human oversight.
Pope Calls for Ban on Lethal Autonomous Weapons
One of the most striking parts of the Pope’s address was his call for a ban on lethal autonomous weapon systems—technologies capable of searching, identifying, selecting, and attacking targets independently, without direct human input at crucial moments.
Leo XIV declared that artificial intelligence must be “disarmed.” He called on the countries set to meet in Geneva in November to take concrete steps toward banning these weapons.
From November 16 to 20, 2026, Geneva will host talks as part of the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. A key topic for discussion will be the international regulation of autonomous weapon systems.
The debate centers on a fundamental question: can the decision to take a human life be left to a technology that lacks moral consciousness and does not bear personal responsibility for its actions?
The Pope’s answer is clear. The decision to use lethal force must never be handed over to automated systems; humans must bear responsibility for such choices.
Artificial Intelligence Is a Tool, Not a Person
Leo XIV outlined five key principles he believes should guide the future development of artificial intelligence. First, he argued, the future of AI is not predetermined; it depends entirely on the choices made by those who develop, finance, regulate, and use these technologies.
The Pope stressed that the most important question is not just what AI can do, but what purposes it should serve. He warned that the drive for more powerful systems should not override careful assessment of AI’s consequences for society.
His second point emphasized that machines are tools, not persons. Artificial intelligence lacks human experiences, a body, or the capacity to feel joy, pain, or relationships. It cannot understand love, friendship, work, or responsibility in the way a human can.
The Pope also warned against granting AI systems rights or legal personhood, saying such moves could obscure the accountability of the people and organizations that develop and deploy the technology. Victims of algorithmic errors, he noted, could find themselves unable to determine who is truly responsible for harmful outcomes.
Technology Must Serve the Common Good
The third principle is to maintain human control over decisions affecting life, liberty, and safety. Fourth, the Pope insisted that technological advances should serve the common good rather than only benefitting privileged groups or large companies.
Leo XIV stressed that justice requires equitable access to the benefits of innovation. AI, in his view, should foster solidarity and expand opportunities for people worldwide—not deepen the divide between those with access to technology and those who are left behind.
The fifth, and perhaps most pressing, issue is the role of institutions. While ethical standards for AI already exist, the Pope argued, effective mechanisms to enforce them are still lacking.
He called for the creation of shared international standards, independent oversight, and clear rules for accountability. Decisions around AI development and use should be open to review, and victims of harm caused by AI should have access to solutions and redress.
Warning Builds on the Pope’s Encyclical Magnifica Humanitas
Friday’s remarks were not an isolated statement. Pope Leo XIV was building on his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, published on May 15, 2026, which focuses on protecting human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence.
The document explores in detail how new technologies are reshaping society, the economy, labor markets, and the nature of military conflict.
The Pope also warned about the growing power of private tech companies, which command financial and technological resources that sometimes surpass those of individual states. For this reason, he argued, AI development should not be left to commercial interests alone.
The encyclical addresses autonomous weapons directly, with the Pope rejecting the notion that an algorithm can bear moral responsibility for the decision to use lethal force. He argued that faster, more efficient decisions do not automatically lead to more just or safer outcomes.
AI Poses Security Risks and Military Challenges
Debates about autonomous weapons are gaining urgency given the rapid development of modern military technology. AI is increasingly used to analyze intelligence, track troop movements, operate drones, and plan military operations.
While military AI can speed up data analysis and improve the accuracy of certain operations, there is also a risk that decisions about the use of force will gradually shift from humans to automated systems.
The Pope wants to prevent exactly this trend. He warns that as attack decisions become more opaque and automated, it will become harder to determine who is responsible for the consequences.
The growing importance of artificial intelligence in military contexts was also highlighted in our article “NATO Unveils New Strategy: Drones, AI, and Emerging Technologies at the Forefront.”
AI Regulation Is Gaining Ground in Slovakia
The need to regulate artificial intelligence is not limited to the world’s largest technology powers. European countries, including Slovakia, are progressively introducing new rules.
Slovakia is preparing an AI oversight system aligned with European legislation. The Ministry of Investment, Regional Development, and Informatization will take the lead as the main coordinating body. The new system will also include a regulated sandbox environment, allowing businesses to test new technologies under state supervision.
You can read more about these measures in our article, “Slovakia Sets AI Rules: MIRRI to Oversee Market and Launch Regulated Sandbox.”
The difference between the European approach and the Pope’s appeal lies mainly in their scope. European law regulates AI according to risk level, while Leo XIV emphasizes the need for international rules for technologies that can decide on life or death.
Geneva Meeting Set for Key Debate on Autonomous Weapons
The next major milestone will be the Geneva talks in November, when countries will address the issue of autonomous weapon systems. The Pope’s call comes at a time when the international community is seeking a coordinated approach to technologies with rapidly expanding military uses.
It remains unclear whether these talks will result in a legally binding ban. Such decisions require backing from individual countries and agreement on which systems and uses should be prohibited or restricted.
Nevertheless, Leo XIV’s message is unequivocal: technological advancement must not remove human responsibility for decisions with irreversible consequences. Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool, but, the Pope insists, it must never be given authority to decide who lives, who is considered a threat, or when lethal force is used.
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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
