At UNESCO, Pope Leo XIV addresses the world with a resounding message of peace and human dignity

Paris, 25 September 2026 – During his historic visit to UNESCO Headquarters today, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV called for renewed international cooperation to build a more just and peaceful world, highlighting the special role that UNESCO has to play.

Invited by UNESCO, Pope Leo XIV made his first visit to a UN agency outside Italy, 46 years after Pope John Paul II visited UNESCO on 2 June 1980.

In his address to more than 1400 people, His Holiness reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to UNESCO’s founding mission, describing UNESCO as both an instrument and a forum in which humanity reflects on its history, its shared identity and its future.

The visit follows the audience of the UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on 5 June 2026, continuing the dialogue between the Holy See and UNESCO on the vital importance of peace, human dignity and artificial intelligence.

Speaking before UNESCO Member States, National Commissions, and members of the UNESCO family from across the world, Pope Leo XIV recalled the opening of the UNESCO Constitution that “since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed,” and stated that peace cannot be secured by treaties or political compromises alone – it must be rooted in justice and ethical responsibility.

Underlining the importance of UNESCO’s mandate, the Pope recalled that 2027 will mark the 75th anniversary of the Holy See’s presence at the Organisation through its Observer Mission, an important moment to reaffirm a shared commitment to human dignity, human development and international cooperation.

Pope Leo XIV cautioned that technological progress, notably artificial intelligence, must serve humanity rather than become an instrument of domination, exploitation or exclusion. While AI systems can process data, he noted, they cannot answer the fundamental human questions of truth and meaning. In this context, he welcomed UNESCO’s work on Media and Information Literacy and urged greater efforts for the protection of children and young people in the digital environment, highlighting the role of UNESCO.

“I encourage the international community as a whole  to devote particular attention to the protection of children and young people. In the digital age, their vulnerability must never become an opportunity for exploitation. May these technologies support their growth, education and relationships, safeguarding their freedom to think and discern, and always remaining at the service of the dignity of the human person.” — His Holiness Pope Leo XIV

In his speech, UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany highlighted the longstanding partnership between Holy See and UNESCO to build peace through education, sciences, culture, communication and information, underlining the vital imperative of bringing people together and safeguarding human dignity in an era of profound global transformation. In this, the Director-General reaffirmed that at the heart of UNESCO’s mission and all of its work are people, including students, teachers, scientists, researchers, innovators, artists, cultural professionals, journalists, local communities, and Indigenous Peoples.

Referring to the AI revolution, the Director-General stressed that human intelligence, discernment, moral responsibility, creativity and empathy cannot be replaced by machines, referring to UNESCO’s longstanding work to place human rights and dignity at the heart of the ethical development and use of AI. Through its 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence – the first global normative instrument in the field — and its work in advancing access to quality education for all and promoting Media and Information Literacy, UNESCO is leading efforts across the world to ensure that these technologies benefit learners and society.

“Together with our Member States, networks and experts, we are working to foster artificial intelligence that serves people: ethical, accessible, equitable and sustainable. An artificial intelligence that enables everyone to learn, teach and create; that advances research and knowledge; and that helps combat discrimination and strengthen information integrity. And because young people are at the heart of this major transformation, UNESCO is the ideal platform to advance reflection on the framework that will enable them to understand, master and make artificial intelligence a driver of empowerment and opportunity for the future.” — Khaled El-Enany, UNESCO Director-General

Empowering young people in the digital age

The Pope’s address followed a morning of discussions at UNESCO’s Forum on Youth in the Age of AI, which explored the implications of artificial intelligence for culture, education and information. Discussions included scholars, philosophers, scientists, artists and content creators, with a focus on the empowerment of youth in the face of a technological revolution affecting all aspects of society.

Promoting peace

In a symbolic gesture of peace, the Pope and the Director-General each watered the Olive Tree of Peace in UNESCO’s Square of Tolerance and viewed the Peace Wall. The Director-General, on behalf of the UNESCO family, presented to the Pope with a Book of Peace, bringing together messages of peace from representatives of UNESCO Member States, UNESCO colleagues and networks from around the world.