Castel Gandolfo: Pope Leo has once again appealed to the international community to help the suffering people of Gaza and to respect the human rights of every person caught in the conflict. Speaking to journalists outside the Papal residence at Castel Gandolfo on Tuesday evening, the Pope said civilians in Gaza continue to face deep pain as humanitarian aid struggles to reach them.
Pope spoke about the growing suffering in the region while responding to questions about activists connected to the Gaza bound Global Sumud Flotilla. Reports had emerged claiming that some activists were handcuffed and blindfolded during recent events linked to the mission.
Reacting to the situation, Pope Leo stressed that human rights must always be protected. He said the world must renew its commitment to respecting the dignity of every person, regardless of nationality or political position.
Pope also expressed concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. He said many ordinary people are still unable to receive proper humanitarian assistance and that families continue to suffer from shortages of food, medicine and basic necessities.
He described the situation as painful and said the lack of aid is increasing anger and protests, creating even more tension around the conflict. According to the Pope, the suffering of civilians should never be ignored.
Pope Leo urged governments and international authorities to act quickly to support the people of Gaza and to help begin rebuilding damaged communities. He said the people there are enduring great hardship and need urgent assistance from the global community.
Speaking about the wider conflict, Pope warned that violence only creates more hatred. He said responding to peaceful actions with force increases division and makes peace more difficult to achieve. Instead of violence, he called for renewed negotiations and sincere dialogue between sides involved in the conflict.
Pope said problems can only be solved through discussions that respect human dignity and the rights of all people. He repeated that violence from any side does not bring lasting solutions.
During the conversation, Pope Leo also reflected on the growing use of artificial intelligence in warfare. He warned that modern military technology is creating dangerous situations where decisions can be made without enough consideration for human life.
Referring to recent conflicts, including violence in Lebanon, the Pope said war is increasingly being carried out with the support of artificial intelligence systems. He expressed concern that such technologies risk distancing people from the human cost of war and from the suffering of innocent victims.
Pope renewed his call for what he described as a “disarmed artificial intelligence,” urging the world to develop technology that serves peace rather than destruction.
He also revealed that the Vatican has already begun discussions with major artificial intelligence companies about ethical concerns linked to the technology. Pope Leo specifically mentioned ongoing dialogue between the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the AI company Anthropic.
According to Pope, both sides are working together to continue discussions about the responsible use of artificial intelligence. He described the cooperation as important for building a future where technology respects human dignity and supports peace instead of conflict.
Pope Leo concluded by saying that dialogue remains the most important path forward, both in resolving wars and in shaping the future of powerful technologies that affect humanity.