With a new stance imbued with profound humanitarian and ethical dimensions, Pope Leo XIV issued an urgent appeal to the international community, calling for the rescue of the people of the Gaza Strip and the defense of human rights, setting aside political calculations and the open war that is devouring innocent lives.
Before leaving his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, the Pope issued a significant statement to journalists, urging international authorities to provide immediate support to the people of Gaza and to contribute to the reconstruction of what the war has destroyed. He emphasized that the people of Gaza are suffering under the weight of an ever-worsening humanitarian tragedy.
The Pope did not simply describe the catastrophe; he extended his warning to the nature of modern warfare, stating that the world now faces a new type of conflict waged through artificial intelligence, in a context where human compassion is obscured by technology. He declared that today’s wars are fought with technologies that do not take human life into account, citing the situation in Lebanon and “other parts of the world.”
The Pope added that humanity faces a serious moral test, calling for the “disarmament of artificial intelligence” and the need to prevent its transformation into a merciless, mindless killing machine. He also emphasized the importance of ongoing dialogue with major technology companies, citing the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development’s commitment to working with Anthropic, a company specializing in artificial intelligence technologies.
Referring to the incident in which the Israeli army intercepted activists from the “Global Freedom Flotilla” delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, the Pope expressed his concern about reports of beatings and mistreatment suffered by some activists, believing that such practices only “fuel further hatred.”
The Pope firmly stated that violence will never be a solution, reiterating his call for respect for the human rights of all without exception and for the commitment to saving civilians from the cycle of war, hunger, and destruction.
At a time when the roar of arms is becoming increasingly deafening, the Pope’s voice seemed like a final warning: the world, however technologically advanced, cannot lose its humanity.
