Pope Leo XIV has raised alarm over the increasing reliance on artificial intelligence in warfare, warning that allowing machines to determine matters of life and death poses a grave threat to humanity and the foundations of civilisation.
The warning was contained in his first World Peace Day message, released on Thursday, December 18. In the address, the Catholic leader expressed deep concern about how rapidly advancing technology is being absorbed into military systems, often without adequate ethical safeguards.
“Further technological advances and the military implementation of artificial intelligence have worsened the tragedy of armed conflict,” he said.
“There is even a growing tendency among political and military leaders to shirk responsibility, as decisions about life and death are increasingly ‘delegated’ to machines.
“This marks an unprecedented and destructive betrayal of the legal and philosophical principles of humanism that underlie and safeguard every civilisation,” he said.
Leo XIV, who became the first American-born pope following his election in May, has repeatedly called for restraint and moral responsibility in the use of emerging technologies. Since taking office, he has stressed that innovation must remain firmly under human oversight, especially when it has the potential to cause harm.
His comments come amid a global surge in the deployment of AI-powered military tools, including autonomous drones, advanced missile defence systems, cyber warfare technologies, and automated surveillance platforms. While supporters argue these systems improve efficiency and security, critics warn they blur accountability and raise serious legal and moral questions.
In the same message, released ahead of World Peace Day on January 1, the pope also criticised the manipulation of religion for political ends, warning that faith is increasingly being weaponised in conflicts around the world.
“Unfortunately, it has become increasingly common to drag the language of faith into political battles, to bless nationalism, and to justify violence and armed struggle in the name of religion,” he said.
The 70-year-old religious leader also challenged the idea that military strength guarantees peace. He was particularly critical of nuclear deterrence, describing it as a system rooted in fear rather than fairness or justice.
He said such approaches to international relations are built “not on law, justice and trust but on fear and domination by force”.
The message concludes with a call for global leaders to prioritize dialogue, accountability, and ethical decision-making, warning that true peace cannot be achieved through weapons or technology alone, but through respect for human dignity and shared values.
