Pope Leo XIV Advocates for Peace Amid High-Tech Conflicts

Pope Leo XIV has voiced strong opposition to the growing investments in artificial intelligence and advanced weaponry, which he claims are steering the world towards a "spiral of annihilation." Delivering his remarks at Rome's La Sapienza University, he emphasized the urgent need for peace in ongoing conflicts like those in the Middle East and Ukraine.

This marks a historic moment as the first papal visit to the university since 2008 when protests led to the cancellation of Pope Benedict XVI's planned speech. The American pope received a warm reception, notably from newly arrived Palestinian students who traveled via a "humanitarian corridor" from Gaza to continue their education in Italy.

During his address, Pope Leo condemned the rapid increase in military expenditure, particularly in Europe, which he argued comes at the cost of education and healthcare. He called for stringent oversight of AI development in military and civilian spheres to ensure human responsibility and prevent worsening conflicts. The Pope's forthcoming encyclical is expected to delve deeper into these pressing issues.

(With inputs from agencies.)