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Pope Leo XIV Calls to "Disarm" AI, Urges UN Member States to Ban Lethal Autonomous Weapons
According to The Verge, Pope Leo XIV used a Friday address to urge UN member states to take concrete steps toward banning lethal autonomous weapons when they meet in Geneva next month. The call bears on whether AI can play a part in decisions to use force, though the report mentions no binding decisions.
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What the pope asked for
The Verge reports that Pope Leo XIV said AI systems should be "disarmed," and that humans "have the responsibility to guide, change and, when necessary, reject its applications." According to the outlet, in a papal address on Friday the pope encouraged UN member states to "take concrete steps toward banning lethal autonomous weapons" during their meeting in Geneva next month. Lethal autonomous weapons generally refer to weapons that can select and attack targets on their own, without direct human control.
The Verge notes that the address reflects many of the ideas in the pope's first major papal document, published in May, which highlighted "safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence."
Human oversight and AI's legal status
According to The Verge, the pope told participants that "machines are tools, not persons," and warned of the dangers of granting AI systems rights or legal personhood. Legal personhood means being treated in law as an entity that can hold rights and bear responsibilities. He also said that decisions affecting human life, freedom and the use of force "must always remain subject to effective, informed, and responsible human oversight."
The Verge reports that the pope closed by calling on international institutions to safeguard the common good from AI-related risks. He also called for shared standards, independent oversight and clear accountability mechanisms, so that decisions about developing and using AI can be examined, challenged when necessary, and accompanied by appropriate remedies for any harm caused.
| Item | What The Verge reports |
|---|---|
| Speaker | Pope Leo XIV |
| Main demand | Urged UN member states to take concrete steps toward banning lethal autonomous weapons |
| Meeting place and time | Geneva, next month |
| Core principle | Decisions affecting human life, freedom and the use of force must remain under effective human oversight |
| View on AI's status | Machines are tools, not persons; warned of the dangers of granting AI rights or legal personhood |
| Institutional proposals | Shared standards, independent oversight, accountability mechanisms and remedies for harm |
Background and what it means for ordinary people
The Verge notes that in 2024 Pope Francis also called for a ban on autonomous weapons, saying, "No machine should ever choose to take the life of a human being." The outlet adds that AI has become a popular topic for Pope Leo XIV, who has suggested he chose his name because he must confront advances in this technology, much as Leo XIII led the Church at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution.
The call is aimed directly at UN member states and is a matter of moral and policy advocacy: the report does not say whether the UN will adopt it, and mentions no binding decisions. For ordinary readers, its significance is that a religious leader is publicly demanding that human responsibility and accountability be maintained in the use of force.
Frequently asked questions
What did Pope Leo XIV call for?
According to The Verge, he urged UN member states to take concrete steps toward banning lethal autonomous weapons at their meeting in Geneva next month, and said AI systems should be "disarmed."
How does the pope view the status of AI?
According to The Verge, he said "machines are tools, not persons," and warned of the dangers of granting AI systems rights or legal personhood.
Will this change the law immediately?
The Verge's report mentions no binding decisions. This is a call for action, and whether the UN will adopt it remains to be seen.
Has a pope called for a ban on autonomous weapons before?
Yes. According to The Verge, Pope Francis called for a ban on autonomous weapons in 2024.
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