By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Pope Leo XIV has warned against allowing artificial intelligence to undermine human values and dignity, cautioning that society must not lose its humanity “amid a paradise of machines.”
The pontiff gave the warning during his four-day visit to France, where he addressed Church and state officials at the Élysée Palace in Paris after talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.
As reported by the BBC on Thursday, 24 September, 2026 Pope Leo’s remarks focused on the growing influence of artificial intelligence and the need to ensure that technological advancement remains centred on human values.
The warning came as the Pope began a visit expected to attract large crowds across France, with more than half a million people expected to attend Mass in Paris on Saturday.
An altar has been erected at the Place de la Concorde, while security measures have been introduced around the Champs-Élysées and surrounding areas ahead of the service.
The Pope was welcomed by Macron at Orly airport after arriving in France on Friday and is scheduled to travel through Paris in his popemobile, with large crowds expected along the route to Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Macron is not expected to attend the Pope’s Masses because of France’s strict separation between church and state. His wife, Brigitte Macron, and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu are expected to attend Saturday’s service.
Other prominent French political figures expected to attend include Marine Le Pen, Edouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal and Bruno Retailleau.
Meanwhile, reports of tensions between the French presidency and the Vatican over arrangements for the visit have been dismissed by Élysée officials, who said France had offered the Pope a range of ceremonial events traditionally provided to visiting heads of state.
Pope Leo, however, declined Macron’s proposal for a meeting with artisans involved in the reconstruction of Notre-Dame Cathedral, with Vatican officials citing his tight schedule.
Following his visit to Notre-Dame on Friday, the Pope is expected to meet about 80,000 young people at the Stade de France in northern Paris.
On Sunday, about 150,000 people have registered to attend Mass at the Catholic sanctuary of Lourdes in the Pyrenees.
The Pope will conclude his visit on Monday in Metz, northeastern France, where he will pay tribute to Robert Schuman, a founding figure of the European Union and a devout Catholic who is currently a candidate for beatification.
