The Holy See, represented by its Permanent Observer to the United Nations in Geneva, Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, has called for a moratorium on the development of autonomous weapons systems capable of killing without human intervention. During an expert session on Emerging Technologies in the Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS), Balestrero emphasized that the Holy See considers such weapons morally irresponsible, stating that human beings, with their capacity for moral judgment and ethical decision-making, cannot be replaced by algorithms, no matter how complex.
The Holy See’s concern stems from the inability of machines to understand or value human dignity, a crucial aspect that allows human combatants to make moral decisions based on abstract reasoning and empathy. The statement draws heavily from Pope Francis’s writings and speeches about the dangers of unchecked technological advancement.
“The Holy See deems it of fundamental importance to retain references to human dignity and ethical considerations at the core of our deliberations. It is necessary ‘to ensure and safeguard a space for proper human control over the choices made by artificial intelligence programs: human dignity itself depends on it,’” Balestrero quoted Pope Francis.
“The development of ever more sophisticated weapons is certainly not the solution,” Balestrero concluded. “The undoubted benefits that humanity will be able to draw from the current technological progress will depend on the degree to which such progress is accompanied by an adequate development of responsibility and values that place technological advancements at the service of integral human development and of the common good.”
While the Holy See has been cautiously receptive to the implementation of artificial intelligence technology in society, it has consistently warned the faithful that human lives and critical decisions should never be left in the hands of automated programs.
The Holy See, a sovereign legal entity under international law, represents the papacy and its authority over the entire Catholic Church. It is distinct from both the sovereign nation of Italy and the Catholic Church as a supranational institution. It also transcends the individual holding the title of “pope” at any given time.
The Holy See has maintained non-voting observer state status in the United Nations since 1964. It is one of only two entities with such a designation, the other being the State of Palestine.