Pope Francis to participate in G7 session on AI

By Vatican News

The Holy See Press Office on Friday confirmed that Pope Francis will intervene in the G7 Summit in Italy’s southern Puglia region in the session devoted to Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The confirmation of the Holy Father’s participation in the Summit, which will take place from June 13 to 15 at Borgo Egnazia in Puglia, follows the announcement made by Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.

"This is the first time in history that a pontiff will participate in the work of a G7," she said, adding that the Pope would attend the "outreach session" for guest participants at the upcoming Group of Seven industrialised nations meeting.

The Summit foresees the participation of the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan.

Decisive ethical contribution to AI framework

"I heartily thank the Holy Father for accepting Italy's invitation. His presence honours our nation and the entire G7," Meloni explained, emphasizing how the Italian government intends to enhance the contribution given by the Holy See on the issue of artificial intelligence, particularly with the "Rome Call for AI Ethics of 2020," promoted by the Pontifical Academy for Life, in a process "that leads to the concrete application of the concept of algorithmic ethics, namely giving ethics to algorithms."

"I am convinced," she added, "that the Pope's presence will provide a decisive contribution to defining a regulatory, ethical, and cultural framework for artificial intelligence, because on this ground, on the present and future of this technology, our capacity will once again be measured, the capacity of the international community to do what another Pope, Saint John Paul II, recalled on October 2, 1979, in his famous speech to the United Nations."

"Political activity, whether national or international, comes from man, is exercised by man, and is for man," Meloni quoted.

Pope Francis dedicated his Message for the 57th World Day of Peace on 1 January 2024 to Artificial Intelligence and Peace urging humanity to cultivate wisdom of the heart which, he says, can help us “to put systems of artificial intelligence at the service of a fully human communication.”