Pope Leo urges leaders not to remain ‘indifferent' to Mideast suffering

Pope Leo XIV on Friday urged leaders not to remain indifferent to suffering in the Middle East, calling for dialogue and diplomacy amid the war in Iran and Lebanon.

“We cannot remain indifferent to such suffering that wounds human dignity and cries out to God for justice,” Leo XIV said, referring to the situation in the Middle East.

“The gravity” of what is happening in the region should “call each person to a true conversion of heart and a change in attitude,” the pope said.

“I therefore urge you never to resign yourselves to the prospect of war by considering it inevitable, but to tirelessly promote dialogue and diplomacy,” he added.

Leo XIV also warned against the risks posed by artificial intelligence, saying there was an “urgent need” to ensure humanity is not lost amid what he described as a “paradise of machines” increasingly shaping daily life.

While technological development has significantly improved living conditions, it has also prompted discussions about “the ambiguous side of technology, which can cause harm when not used for good,” the pope said.

He referred to French writer Georges Bernanos’ 1947 essay “France Against the Robots,” warning of the need to avoid a “paradise of machines” and preserve the tradition of cultivating individuals who are free and fully responsible for their actions.

“There is an urgent need to train minds in ethical discernment, capable of recognizing what is morally good,” Leo XIV said.

Leo XIV made the remarks during his four-day visit to France, which began Friday with his arrival at Paris-Orly Airport, where he was welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron.

His schedule also includes a visit to UNESCO headquarters, a celebration at Notre-Dame de Paris and a vigil with young people at the Stade de France.

About 1 million people are expected in Paris on Friday and Saturday, according to France's Interior Ministry, while around 14,000 police officers, gendarmes and soldiers have been deployed in the capital.

Leo XIV will later travel to Lourdes and Metz before returning to Rome on Monday.

The visit is the first apostolic trip by a pope to France since 2008.