Pope Leo XIV Rejects Trump's 'Hoax' Label, Urges Global Action on AI Risks

Pope Leo XIV has pushed back against characterizations of artificial intelligence safety concerns as exaggerated or fabricated, insisting that warnings from experts in the field deserve serious attention and concrete action. Speaking to journalists aboard a flight from Metz, France, to Rome on Monday, the pontiff made clear that he does not accept the dismissive framing that has occasionally emerged from political and business leaders.

"I do think that the concerns raised by many of the experts, specialists in AI, should be taken seriously," Leo said during the in-flight news conference, which took place at the conclusion of his four-day visit to France. "I don't think that that is fake news, as some have said."

The pope's remarks represented an implicit but unmistakable rebuke of US President Donald Trump, who has publicly described fears about AI going rogue as a "hoax." Leo did not mention Trump by name, but the context of the question — which asked specifically what the United States and China should be doing to prevent catastrophic AI risks — made the contrast clear.

Leo has made artificial intelligence a defining theme of his 16-month papacy, which is itself notable given the traditionally broad scope of papal teaching. Within days of his election, he identified AI as one of the most significant challenges facing humanity. He later took the unusual step of personally launching his first encyclical — a formal papal letter of the highest doctrinal weight — alongside Christopher Olah, cofounder of the AI safety company Anthropic, at a Vatican event in May.

That encyclical was dedicated to AI and the protection of humanity in its wake, a signal that the Vatican views the technology not merely as a scientific or economic matter but as a moral and existential one. The joint launch with a Silicon Valley figure underscored the Holy See's intent to engage the technology industry directly rather than criticize it from a distance.

During Monday's news conference, the pope also took aim at technology executives who argue that AI development should proceed without regulatory constraints. He referenced remarks he said he had read that day from Jensen Huang, chief executive of the chipmaker Nvidia, who reportedly suggested there could be a way to build guardrails into certain AI models.

Leo responded with evident skepticism. "He's the same one, however, that says there should be no limits placed and no government regulation," the pope observed. The comment highlighted what the pontiff appears to see as a contradiction: industry leaders offering voluntary safety measures while simultaneously resisting binding oversight.

Huang told CBS News earlier this month that he agreed with Trump's position that safety concerns surrounding AI have been overblown. The Nvidia chief's stance reflects a broader divide in the technology world, where some executives warn that excessive regulation could stifle innovation and cede competitive advantage to rivals abroad, while others — including researchers and former industry insiders — argue that the risks of unchecked development are too severe to ignore.

The Vatican has in recent months intensified its advocacy for international AI governance, extending its focus to specific domains including nuclear technology, culture and artistic creation. These areas reflect the Holy See's concern that AI could undermine human dignity, distort cultural expression and introduce new dangers into already delicate strategic balances.

Leo framed the challenge as one requiring sustained, inclusive dialogue rather than one-off statements. "We need to continue to invite political leaders, leaders of AI, social organisations, associations to come together and look at what is happening already and what could be down the road," he said.

The pope urged the world "to promote dialogue, study, investigation, to find ways to make sure that AI does not get to a point where it could destroy humanity." His language was notably stark, reflecting a view that the stakes involve not just job displacement or misinformation but the possibility of civilizational harm.

"I think that there are enough people seriously interested in that… but we have to keep working," Leo added. "We can't just sit back and pretend nothing's going to happen."

The pope's comments come at a moment when AI governance remains fragmented internationally. The United States and China, the two dominant powers in AI development, have taken markedly different approaches to regulation, and efforts to establish shared global standards have struggled to gain traction. The European Union has advanced its own regulatory framework, but its influence on American and Chinese developers is limited.

Leo's intervention positions the Vatican as an unusual but increasingly active voice in that debate. As the first American pope, he brings a perspective shaped by familiarity with the US technology sector, yet he has consistently emphasized moral and humanitarian considerations over national competitiveness.

His willingness to challenge both political leaders who dismiss AI risks and industry figures who resist regulation suggests the Vatican intends to remain a persistent presence in the conversation. Whether that pressure translates into concrete policy remains uncertain, but Leo made clear on Monday that he does not intend to let the issue fade from attention.

"We can't just sit back and pretend nothing's going to happen," he repeated, framing inaction itself as a form of risk. For a pontiff who has staked significant moral capital on the AI question, the message was both a warning and a call to sustained engagement.