Pope Leo has begun a three-day official visit to France, his first as reigning pontiff in 18 years, using the occasion to warn against the dangers of artificial intelligence and the erosion of human dignity in an increasingly technological world. His warnings are significant given widespread global concerns about AI's ethical implications and his role as head of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics.

During addresses at the Élysée and UNESCO headquarters, the 71-year-old pontiff stressed that new technologies must serve humanity rather than dominate it, arguing that science without ethics risks dehumanising society and treating human beings as disposable based on efficiency criteria. He also criticised world leaders for selectively applying the rule of law, and urged France to champion peace as Russia's invasion of Ukraine enters its fifth year. The visit includes a mass at Place de la Concorde on Saturday, a speech on European peace in Metz on Monday, and a visit to Lourdes where he will meet seven victims of clerical sexual abuse, following a 2021 report estimating 330,000 children were abused by priests or church figures in France over seven decades.