Pope Francis will address the artificial intelligence (AI) session of the G7 Summit in southern Puglia, Italy, according to a statement released on Friday by the Holy See Press Office.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that the Holy Father will attend the Summit, which will be held in Borgo Egnazia in Puglia from June 13 to 15.

“This is the first time in history that a pontiff will participate in the work of a G7,” she added, adding that the Pope would attend the “outreach session” for guest participants at the next Group of Seven industrialized nations conference.

Participating in the Summit are the US, Canada, France, UK, Germany, and Japan.

Importance of ethics in AI framework

My deepest gratitude goes out to the Holy Father for agreeing to Italy’s invitation. “His presence honours our nation and the entire G7,” Meloni explained, highlighting the Italian government’s plans to strengthen the Holy See’s role in AI research and development. This includes initiatives like the “Rome Call for AI Ethics of 2020,” organised by the Pontifical Academy for Life, which aims to “give ethics to algorithms” through practical application of the idea of algorithmic ethics.

“I am convinced,” she continued, “that the Pope’s presence will make a significant impact in establishing a regulatory, ethical, and cultural framework for artificial intelligence. Our ability to address this pressing issue, as outlined by Saint John Paul II in his renowned address to the United Nations on October 2, 1979, will be tested here, on the present and future of this technology.”

According to Meloni, “political activity, whether national or international, comes from man, is exercised by man, and is for man.”

According to Vatican News, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of developing compassionate wisdom as a means “to put systems of artificial intelligence at the service of a fully human communication” during his Message for the 57th World Day of Peace on 1 January 2024.

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