Pope Leo Warns Against 'Paradise of Machines' During France Visit
The pontiff stresses the need for ethical discernment in an increasingly technological world and advocates for a secularism that includes religion.
Pope Leo on Friday cautioned against the erosion of humanity in a "paradise of machines" as he commenced his visit to France, an event drawing thousands of attendees.
"If we are to avoid losing our humanity amid a paradise of machines invading and conditioning our daily lives, there is an urgent need for education in ethical discernment," Pope Leo stated.
During his official trip, the first to France in 18 years, the pontiff emphasized that authentic secularism should not preclude religion. He posited that secularism "consists not in excluding religion from the public sphere or from education, but in striving to ensure that the state and religious institutions maintain dialogue and join forces in the service of the common good."
Pope Leo expressed concern over trends that "risk turning science and technology into profit-driven ventures promoting genetic manipulation, surrogacy, the trade in human organs or the possibility of arranging one's own death," particularly in light of France's recent legislation granting assisted dying rights.
The leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics urged France to remain a "tireless champion of peace" globally, amidst Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte greeted Pope Leo upon his arrival, marking the first official visit by a head of the Vatican since Pope Benedict XVI in 2008. Pope Leo told reporters that he was traveling to France to "proclaim peace, the peace of Christ throughout the world," a message he deemed particularly important at this time.
Events planned for the first two days of his visit in Paris are expected to draw approximately one million people. A significant event will be a mass led by the pontiff at Place de la Concorde and the adjoining Champs-Élysées.
The itinerary also includes a visit to Lourdes, a pilgrimage site, where he will meet privately with victims of clerical sex abuse. He is also scheduled to visit Metz to discuss peace in Europe.
Pope Leo is set to address crowds from a popemobile en route to Notre Dame Cathedral, where he will be the first pope to inspect renovations following the 2019 fire. His predecessor, Pope Francis, visited France multiple times but never officially.
Later in the day, the pontiff will lead a prayer service and hymns with young believers aged 17 to 35 in a stadium in Saint-Denis. A relic, believed to be the tunic Jesus wore during the Passion, will be brought from the nearby Saint-Denis Cathedral for the occasion.
Despite only about five percent of France's 69 million residents attending Catholic church regularly, the number of teenage and adult baptisms is reportedly on the rise, with thousands choosing to embrace the faith.