Pope Francis joins G7 summit first time to address AI ethics

Pope Francis is expected to participate in a discussion on the ethical implications of artificial intelligence (AI) at the G7 Summit in Savelletri, southern Italy, this week.

The session, scheduled for Friday, is open to envoys from non-G7 member countries.

This marks the first time the Holy See has joined the summit.

The Vatican announced that Pope Francis will also hold bilateral conversations with several visiting leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, who extended the invitation, stated that the pope’s presence would “make a decisive contribution to defining a regulatory, ethical, and cultural framework” for AI, adding that his participation “brings prestige to our nation and to the entire Group of 7.”

Pope Francis’s involvement in the G7 summit signifies a notable departure from the traditional stance of the Roman Catholic Church, which typically declines such invitations.

According to Italian church historian Alberto Melloni, the pope, known for breaking with convention, likely sees the summit as an opportunity to send a powerful message on global issues, including the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, affirmed that Francis was prepared to utilize “all the means and spaces” available to advocate for peace.

He emphasized that the invitation to the summit also recognized the profound ethical implications of AI technology, which the pope will officially discuss.

In recent years, the Vatican has been proactive in addressing AI’s ethical concerns.

The Pontifical Academy for Life, in 2020, issued the “Rome Call for A.I. Ethics,” a document outlining principles for AI development and use, endorsed by industry leaders from Microsoft, IBM, and Cisco.

Pope Francis has consistently highlighted the need for a global treaty to ensure AI systems uphold human values such as mercy, compassion, and forgiveness.

The Rev. Paolo Benanti, an AI ethicist for both the Vatican and the Italian government, noted that the pope’s attendance underscores his commitment to engaging with critical global issues like AI, migration, and climate change.

Residents of Savelletri, where the G7 summit is held in a luxury resort, are eager for the pope’s visit despite tight security protocols that may prevent them from seeing him.

Laura Mancini, a 68-year-old local, summed up the community’s sentiment: “At least a blessing. He must give that to us.”