Pope Leo XIV visits UNESCO in Paris

Pope Leo XIV visited the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on Friday, Sept. 25, to address the impact of artificial intelligence on culture. During a speech delivered in both English and French, the pope warned that AI could foster a corruption of culture that threatens the understanding of what it means to be human. He compared the confusion caused by AI to the Tower of Babel and suggested that the redemption of such cultural corruption is found in the peace and unity of Pentecost.

The visit marks the first day of the pope's trip to France, which runs through Sept. 28. In addition to his time at UNESCO, the pope is scheduled to meet with politicians and church representatives, visit the shrine in Lourdes, and speak in Metz.

In a separate address to French diplomats and politicians at the Élysée Palace, the pope spoke about the war in the Middle East. He called for disarmament and a ban on nuclear weapons, urging a conversion of heart in response to the suffering in the region. While he did not name Gaza or Iran specifically, he thanked the French government for working with the Holy See to support more than 260 educational institutions in Lebanon and Bethlehem.