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Pope Leo Urges Serious Consideration of AI Existential Risks, Countering Trump's 'Hoax' Claims

September 28, 2026 at 23:02 EDT

Foundation Models
Policy & Regulation

Pope Leo XIV has called for humanity to take seriously the risks that artificial intelligence could destroy civilization, directly contradicting former U.S. President Trump's recent dismissal of such concerns as a "hoax." Speaking as he opened a papal visit to France on September 25, the pontiff warned that unchecked AI development threatens to trap humanity in a "paradise of machines" that erodes human dignity and social cohesion.

SEPTEMBER 2026 · AI GOVERNANCE

Pope vs. Trump: A Chasm on AI Existential Risk

The Vatican and leading AI researchers warn of catastrophic risks; the U.S. administration calls concerns a political hoax and pushes for unrestricted development.

ENCYCLICAL LENGTH

42,300

words in Pope Leo's Magnifica Humanitas

EXISTENTIAL PROBABILITY

>10%

AI eliminates humans within decade (Anthropic)

WORST-CASE SCENARIO

25%

Dario Amodei's "really, really badly" probability

Vatican Position

AI poses existential threat to humanity
Requires robust global regulation
Industry must slow development
Technology must serve human dignity

Trump Administration

AI safety concerns are a "hoax"
No regulatory brakes on development
Regulation harms competitiveness
Creating new "AI Force"

Industry Alignment

OpenAI

Supports pacing

Anthropic

Supports regulation

Many AI Cos.

Open to safety

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