IT · 2026-10-31
Pope Leo XIV Urges AI to Be “Disarmed,” Stresses Debate on Banning Autonomous Lethal Weapons
Pope Leo XIV said AI is not a person but a tool, emphasizing the need for responsible human control. He urged UN member states to take concrete steps toward banning autonomous lethal weapons at the Geneva meeting.
Discussion around artificial intelligence is moving beyond convenience and into questions of life and safety. In a recent address, Pope Leo XIV described AI systems as something that should be “disarmed,” emphasizing that the responsibility for deciding how technology is developed and used belongs to humans.
According to The Verge, the pope urged UN member states to take concrete steps toward banning autonomous lethal weapons at next month’s meeting in Geneva. Autonomous lethal weapons are weapons designed to select and attack targets without direct human intervention. However, his remarks do not mean such a ban has already been decided; rather, he was calling on member states to move forward with discussion and action toward one.
The pope also warned about the risks of granting AI rights or legal personhood, stressing that “machines are tools, not persons.” In particular, he said decisions affecting human life, freedom, and the use of force must be responsibly supervised by informed human beings. The implication is that even if AI is involved in making judgments, final responsibility should not be handed over to machines.
This address also ties in with the issue of “protecting human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence,” which the pope raised in his first major papal document released in May. He argued that international organizations should play a role in safeguarding the common good, and that common standards for reviewing the development and use of AI, independent oversight, and mechanisms that clearly assign responsibility are also needed. He also noted the importance of putting in place appropriate remedies when harm occurs.
Concerns about banning autonomous weapons are not new. According to reports, Pope Francis also called for a ban on autonomous weapons in 2024, saying in effect that machines should not be allowed to decide over human life and death. Pope Leo XIV’s message once again highlights that AI should not be viewed only through the lens of performance or efficiency, but also in terms of who holds control and responsibility. What concrete measures countries discuss at the Geneva meeting is likely to become a key issue going forward.
According to The Verge, the pope urged UN member states to take concrete steps toward banning autonomous lethal weapons at next month’s meeting in Geneva. Autonomous lethal weapons are weapons designed to select and attack targets without direct human intervention. However, his remarks do not mean such a ban has already been decided; rather, he was calling on member states to move forward with discussion and action toward one.
The pope also warned about the risks of granting AI rights or legal personhood, stressing that “machines are tools, not persons.” In particular, he said decisions affecting human life, freedom, and the use of force must be responsibly supervised by informed human beings. The implication is that even if AI is involved in making judgments, final responsibility should not be handed over to machines.
This address also ties in with the issue of “protecting human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence,” which the pope raised in his first major papal document released in May. He argued that international organizations should play a role in safeguarding the common good, and that common standards for reviewing the development and use of AI, independent oversight, and mechanisms that clearly assign responsibility are also needed. He also noted the importance of putting in place appropriate remedies when harm occurs.
Concerns about banning autonomous weapons are not new. According to reports, Pope Francis also called for a ban on autonomous weapons in 2024, saying in effect that machines should not be allowed to decide over human life and death. Pope Leo XIV’s message once again highlights that AI should not be viewed only through the lens of performance or efficiency, but also in terms of who holds control and responsibility. What concrete measures countries discuss at the Geneva meeting is likely to become a key issue going forward.
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