Pope Leo calls for AI disarmament, cites 'lethal autonomous weapons' risk

pope leo xiv has issued a statement calling for the disarmament of ai systems, with a focus on banning 'lethal autonomous weapons.' in his papal address, he encouraged un member states to take concrete steps toward this ban during their meeting in geneva next month. the pope reiterated that 'machines are tools, not persons' and stressed the importance of human oversight in ai decision-making, particularly in matters affecting human life, freedom, and the use of force. this stance is consistent with his first major papal document in may, which highlighted the need to safeguard human persons in the time of artificial intelligence. pope leo xiv also emphasized the need for international institutions to establish shared standards, independent oversight, and clear mechanisms of accountability in ai development and use.