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France: Pope Leo XIV begins his 4-day visit
Pope Leo XIV and French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the importance of ensuring that artificial intelligence is not used to oppress populations.
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Pope Leo XIV arrives at Notre-Dame Cathedral to preside over Vespers, this Friday, September 25, 2026, in Paris -
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France
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Pope Leo XIV to the Élysée on Friday, on the occasion of the start of the pontiff’s four-day visit to France, the first official state visit by a pope in 18 years.
The French president told the pope that his visit offered hope to people facing, I quote, « the spectacle of the miseries of the world ».»
Addressing the subject of artificial intelligence, Emmanuel Macron said that human beings must retain the place that is rightfully theirs as technology advances.
The French head of state called for international oversight to ensure that the most advanced systems ever created by humanity are not controlled by a small number of powerful actors, nor used as instruments of oppression of peoples. The pontiff echoed this sentiment, warning against a « paradise of machines » likely to harm humanity, and urged France to use its influence to promote peace both in Europe and throughout the world.
Throwing down a challenge to Paris, the pope also rejected the idea that nuclear weapons guarantee security, stressing that they fuel a new arms race that is difficult to control, and urged the country to resort to dialogue.
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