Pope Leo XIV has issued a strong warning about the growing misuse of artificial intelligence, cautioning that it risks intensifying “polarisation, conflict, fear and violence” across the world.
Speaking at the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaoundé, Cameroon, the pontiff said the danger of AI goes beyond technological misuse.
According to him, society now faces a deeper threat – the gradual replacement of reality with manipulated or simulated narratives.
“This is not just about new technologies,” he said. “It is about a shift in our relationship with truth itself, where division and fear can easily spread.”
The remarks came during his ongoing 11-day tour of Africa, where he has taken a more outspoken stance on global issues, including conflict and economic injustice.
His comments also follow a public clash with U.S. president Donald Trump, who recently drew criticism for sharing an AI-generated image of himself depicted as a saint after the pope condemned escalating tensions in the Middle East.
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While acknowledging that innovation should not be feared – especially by young Africans – the pope stressed the hidden costs of the global digital boom. He pointed to the environmental and human toll of mining rare earth minerals essential for powering AI systems.
Africa, he noted, continues to bear the brunt of this demand. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, vast reserves of cobalt, lithium, copper and coltan have fueled decades of instability and violence, particularly in the country’s eastern region.
Data from the United States Geological Survey shows that the country accounted for over 75% of global cobalt production in 2024, underscoring its central role in the global tech supply chain.
The pope also condemned corruption within Africa’s mining sector, arguing that foreign powers – particularly China – continue to profit from the continent’s vast natural wealth while local communities remain impoverished.
“Africa must be freed from the scourge of corruption,” he said, calling for a more just and equitable system that benefits its people rather than external interests.
His message blended caution with hope – urging responsible innovation while calling for justice in how the world sources and uses the materials driving the AI revolution.
