Pope Leo XIV Urges Global AI Rules at UNESCO
The pope will address 194 nations in Paris to push for international safeguards on artificial intelligence.
Key points
- Pope Leo XIV addresses 194 UNESCO member states on AI regulation.
- Bill Gates pledged one billion dollars to reduce AI inequality in the Global South.
- The Vatican seeks to bridge US and China on AI safety standards.
Pope Leo XIV will address UNESCO in Paris on Friday, September 25. This marks the first papal visit to the organization in over forty years. He speaks amid a growing US-China race for AI dominance.
The visit follows a summit between US and Chinese leaders. They discussed trade and potential shared rules for AI. The pope aims to bridge the gap between these rival superpowers.
Vatican pushes for global AI safety
The Vatican seeks to act as a moral convener in tech debates. It uses its network to connect leaders in Beijing, Washington, and Silicon Valley. This effort aims to establish international guardrails for the technology.
John-Clark Levin of Yorktown believes the pope can revive US-China safety talks. The Vatican previously issued an encyclical called Magnifica Humanitas. It called for stronger regulation and oversight of AI companies.
Diplomatic efforts extend beyond Paris
Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia will speak at the Gates Foundation event in New York. He recently met privately with Bill Gates for two hours. Gates pledged one billion dollars to combat AI inequality in the Global South.
US Vice President JD Vance initially supported a papal broker role. He later shifted to echo Trump’s skepticism about regulation. Both leaders have dismissed warnings of catastrophic AI risks as a hoax.
US bishops meet tech experts
Around thirty US bishops met with seven AI experts on September 16. This private session lasted two and a half hours. Bishop Oscar Cantú now leads the US bishops’ AI task force.
The US is scheduled to withdraw from UNESCO at the end of 2026. Despite this, US representatives will attend the pope’s address. The National Catholic Reporter highlights this diplomatic tension.
