Pope Leo XIV Calls for UN Ban on Lethal Autonomous AI Weapons

In a Papal Address delivered on Friday, Pope Leo XIV urged United Nations member states to take concrete steps toward banning lethal autonomous weapons during their upcoming meeting in Geneva next month. Describing artificial intelligence systems as tools rather than human beings, the Pontiff advocated for the "disarmament" of AI technologies in military and decision-making contexts.

According to Pope Leo, humans bear the fundamental responsibility to "guide, change and, when necessary, reject" the applications of artificial intelligence.

Machines as Tools, Not Persons

The address expands upon principles Pope Leo outlined in his first major papal document published in May, which centered on "safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence."

Throughout his speech, Pope Leo warned against granting AI systems legal personhood or rights. "Machines are tools, not persons," he declared, adding that critical choices concerning human existence, liberty, and physical force must never be delegated entirely to software.

"Decisions affecting human life, freedom, and the use of force must always remain subject to effective, informed, and responsible human oversight," Pope Leo stated.

This stance continues the Vatican's ongoing critique of unmonitored AI technology. In 2024, Pope Francis similarly called for an international prohibition on autonomous weapons, stating that "no machine should ever choose to take the life of a human being."

Historical Context and Global Governance

Pope Leo suggested that his choice of papal name reflects the church's need to address the modern technological shift. The name draws a direct historical parallel to Pope Leo XIII, who guided the Catholic Church through the social and economic disruptions of the Industrial Revolution.

To address the risks of modern AI, Pope Leo called on international institutions to safeguard the global common good by establishing strong governance standards. He advocated for independent oversight, shared international benchmarks, and clear mechanisms of accountability. Such frameworks, he noted, are essential so that decisions surrounding AI development can be formally examined, challenged, and corrected if harm occurs.