Pope Leo XIV Condemns AI Misuse and Ecological Devastation During Landmark Apostolic Tour of Africa

Pope Leo XIV criticizes the use of AI to fuel conflict and slams the exploitation of Africa's rare earth minerals during his 11-day apostolic journey.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 5:33 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Channels Television

The Pontiff Addresses the Digital Divide

Pope Leo XIV issued a stern warning against the weaponization of artificial intelligence during a significant address at the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaounde. On the fifth day of his 11-day apostolic journey, the pontiff argued that the challenge posed by AI systems extends beyond mere technological risk, representing a fundamental shift in the human relationship with truth. He suggested that the gradual replacement of reality with digital simulations is actively fanning the flames of conflict, fear, and social polarization across the globe.

Ecological Costs of the Tech Boom

The speech highlighted the "darker side" of the digital revolution, specifically the environmental devastation caused by the extraction of rare earth minerals. Leo pointed out that the global AI boom is heavily reliant on raw materials like cobalt, which are essential for powering energy-hungry data servers. He noted that Africa often bears the brunt of the human and social costs associated with this relentless pursuit, leading to ecological ruin in regions that provide the backbone for modern technological advancement.

Conflict Minerals and Regional Violence

The Pope drew a direct line between the demand for minerals and the decades of violence plaguing the mineral-rich eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo. With the country supplying over three-quarters of the world’s cobalt in 2024, competition for lithium, copper, and coltan has fueled a cycle of instability. Leo’s intervention serves as a reminder that the high-tech systems enjoyed by the West are often built upon a foundation of suffering and systemic violence in African nations.