Zürcher Nachrichten - Pope warns against losing humanity in AI-driven 'paradise of machines'

Hundreds of thousands are expected to line the streets of Paris as the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics makes the first official papal trip to the European nation in 18 years.

Monique Barusseaud, 83, was among a crowd of all ages waiting in central Paris for the start of his 2.5-kilometre (1.5-mile) popemobile ride later in the afternoon.

"Today, at last, I will see the pope," said the retiree from the southwestern city of La Rochelle, who had come early with her folding chair to secure a good view.

Anticipation grew among the faithful after Pope Leo spoke at the presidential palace with President Emmanuel Macron of the need to safeguard humanity against AI.

"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," he said.

In a time of tense transatlantic ties and as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine drags on in its fifth year, he urged the European nation to remain a "tireless champion of peace".

"In the face of rumours of war and the varied crises troubling our world, France is called to remain a tireless champion of peace and multilateralism, particularly within our beloved Europe," he said.

- 'Authentic secularity' -

The first US pontiff's visit comes just seven months away from presidential elections to replace Macron, with the anti-immigration far right eyeing its best chance at seizing power after the centrist.

In a proudly secular country that has for more than a century separated church and state, Leo stressed that "authentic secularity" should not exclude religion "from the public sphere or from education".

Politicians have in recent years often invoked France's brand of secularism to justify bans on religious symbols, including Muslim women's attire, in public spaces and schools.

After France passed legislation in June granting some adult patients the right to assisted dying, Leo warned against 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".

A million people are expected at events across Paris during the first two days of his trip, as he marked the first official trip by a head of the Vatican since Pope Benedict XVI in September 2008.

The high point of the apostolic journey will be a giant mass on Saturday, led by the pontiff at Place de la Concorde and adjoining Champs-Elysees.

Pope Leo will also visit Lourdes, a pilgrimage site for Christians worldwide where he will privately meet victims of clerical sex abuse, and Metz, near the German border, where he is to further speak about peace in Europe.

- 'Pure joy' -

On Friday afternoon, Leo is next to address UN culture and education agency UNESCO, after its head said it saw in the pontiff an "indispensable partner" to in the AI debate.

He is to wave to the crowds on his way to the Notre Dame cathedral in central Paris, where he will be the first pope to inspect renovations following a devastating 2019 fire.

His predecessor Pope Francis -- who visited France three times, but never officially -- did not attend the Gothic masterpiece's reopening in late 2024, when then president-elect Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk were among the guests.

Lydie Mouradian, 74, was hoping to catch a glimpse of the pope when the popemobile drew closer to Notre Dame.

"It's pure joy, I am very, very happy," she said.

Last on his agenda for the day will be a mass prayer and hymns with 80,000 young believers aged 17 to 35 in stadium in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis.

Only around five percent of France's 69 million residents go to Catholic church regularly, a survey last year found.

But while the number of infant christenings has dwindled in recent years, teenage and adult baptisms are on the rise, with thousands choosing to embrace the faith.

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O.Pereira--NZN