New Facts: Pope Leo XIV Addresses UNESCO on Peace

Pope Leo XIV addressed UNESCO in Paris, the first papal appearance at the agency since John Paul II in 1980. Speaking to more than 1,400 attendees, he said peace cannot rest on treaties or political deals alone, but must be grounded in justice and ethical responsibility.

He described UNESCO as both an instrument and a forum where humanity reflects on its past, shared identity and future. Recalling the agency’s founding idea that wars begin in minds, he said the work of peace must be built there.

He warned that advances such as artificial intelligence must serve people, not become tools of domination, exploitation or exclusion. He added that machines can analyze data but cannot answer questions of truth and meaning. He welcomed UNESCO’s media and information literacy work, urged stronger protection for children and young people online, and noted that 2027 will mark 75 years of the Holy See’s observer mission to the agency as a moment to renew shared commitments.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources