Pope Leo urges global debate on AI risks

Pope Leo XIV told reporters on the papal plane Sept. 28, 2026, that AI specialists' warnings should be taken seriously and are not fake news. He spoke returning to Rome after four days in France. Leo said political leaders, AI executives, and civic groups should meet on present and future risks so AI does not reach a point where it could destroy humanity. He said he is not in panic mode, sleeps at night, and remains relatively optimistic that guardrails can be built. The Vatican has an AI commission; his first major AI encyclical was released in May.

Leo criticized Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang for opposing government regulation while announcing guardrails for AI agents. Huang has said safety concerns were overblown. President Donald Trump called AI danger warnings a HOAX and SICK conspiracy and called regulation efforts a globalist scheme in his Sept. 22 UN address. No dispute appears over what Leo said; the clash is whether the warnings merit a serious response.

Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson were set to meet tech CEOs including Huang at the White House on Tuesday.

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