UN member states should take concrete steps to ban ‘lethal autonomous weapons,’ Pope Leo XIV announced during a recent address.
Pope Leo XIV asserts that AI systems must be “disarmed,” emphasizing that humans bear the responsibility to guide, modify, and, if needed, reject their applications. In his recent Papal Address, he urged United Nations member states to implement concrete measures to ban lethal autonomous weapons during their upcoming meeting in Geneva.
This address underscores themes found in Pope Leo’s first major encyclical from May, which focused on “safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence.” Consistent with this document, the Pope informed participants that “Machines are tools, not persons.” He warned against the risks of granting AI systems legal personhood, stating, “Decisions affecting human life, freedom, and the use of force must always remain subject to effective, informed, and responsible human oversight.”
Pope Francis previously called for a similar ban on autonomous weapons in 2024, declaring, “No machine should ever choose to take the life of a human being.” Pope Leo has made AI a significant focus, noting that he chose his papal name to confront technological advancements, much as Pope Leo XIII did during the rise of the Industrial Revolution.
Concluding his remarks, Pope Leo called on international institutions to protect the common good by establishing “shared standards, independent oversight, and clear accountability mechanisms.” He emphasized that these measures are essential to ensure decisions regarding AI development and usage can be examined and challenged, with remedies available for any resulting harm.
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