On July 16, the Rome Declaration for an Unarmed and Disarming World in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Nuclear and Autonomous Weapons, New Digital Protocols, and Digital Development was signed on Capitoline Hill in Rome.
This was reported by Vatican News.
The signing marked the culmination of the World Assembly, held from July 14 to July 16 in Castel Gandolfo. Around 200 participants attended, including Nobel laureates, international experts, scientists, religious leaders, and former heads of state and government. The assembly was inspired by Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, which is devoted to safeguarding human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence.
The six-point declaration states that humanity is facing an unprecedented challenge that will affect every person. The development of artificial intelligence could lead not only to massive job losses and intensify economic competition among nuclear powers. The accelerating nuclear arms race is unfolding alongside an equally dangerous race in artificial intelligence. The declaration calls for preventing the next arms race before it shapes the future. Developers of artificial intelligence systems are strongly urged to act in the interests of humanity in accordance with international law and human rights. The declaration also calls for an international treaty prohibiting the irresponsible integration of artificial intelligence into the command, control, and launch systems of nuclear weapons.
Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome, who attended the session, said that the Rome Declaration carries particular significance today because humanity has reached a turning point in history.
“Scientific and technological progress opens extraordinary opportunities for healthcare, education, environmental protection, the fight against poverty, and the building of peace. Yet when separated from ethics, responsibility, and respect for human dignity, that same progress can become an instrument of domination and even destruction. The Declaration presented today reminds us with absolute clarity that no machine, no algorithm, and no autonomous system can become the center of decision-making when the survival of humanity is at stake,” he said.
The cardinal added that decisions concerning life and death, peace and war, and the future of nations and generations to come must remain under full, responsible, and conscious human control.
The danger posed by nuclear weapons is now far greater than it was 30 years ago, according to David Gross, Nobel Prize laureate in Physics, professor of theoretical physics, and Executive Vice Chancellor of the University of California. The scientist expressed regret over the collapse of arms control agreements, noting that there are now nine nuclear-armed states. He said that people around the world can no longer remain unaware of how these threats may affect not only their own lives but also future generations. Speaking about the Rome Declaration, he emphasized its central message. “We call on the nuclear powers to pursue policies that reduce the risk of war, nuclear war, and total annihilation.”
“Human dignity is not an algorithm,” Peace Ambassador Sharon Stone stressed in her address. She said that as the capabilities of machines continue to expand, so too must the moral responsibilities of those who create them.
