Overview
- A phone call took place on Friday between Pope Leo XIV and Prime Minister Mark Carney in which both leaders discussed developing artificial intelligence from an ethical, human‑centred perspective and promoting peace in the Middle East and Ukraine.
- In his new encyclical Magnifica Humanitas the pope warned governments to slow AI development and said advanced systems can spread misinformation, favour conflict and risk driving the world toward prolonged war.
- Prime Minister Carney welcomed the pope’s leadership, said Canada wants to lead internationally on responsible AI and announced the federal government will release its long‑awaited national AI strategy next week.
- The conversation arrives as Ottawa outlines six pillars for the strategy and invests in domestic measures such as a sovereign AI data centre and provincial rules, steps that aim to protect democracy, empower users and shape how AI affects daily life.
- Watch for the coming strategy and next month’s G7 in Alberta as opportunities for Canada and the Vatican’s moral framing to influence global AI rules, standards and multilateral cooperation.