Pope’s address tackles war, AI, secularism and surrogacy in landmark speech

PARIS, 25 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Pope Francis delivered a high-profile address at the Élysée Palace in Paris on September 25, 2026, where he directly engaged with France’s most contentious social and technological debates, including artificial intelligence, secularism, and surrogacy, while urging global peace amid escalating conflicts.

The speech marked the first time a pope has publicly addressed France’s secularist framework, known as laïcité, calling for a more inclusive interpretation that balances religious freedom with societal cohesion. He also condemned the commercialization of surrogacy, framing it as an ethical violation of human dignity, while warning that unchecked AI development risks exacerbating inequality and eroding trust in institutions.

His plea for peace came as Europe faces heightened tensions over Ukraine and the Middle East, with France playing a key role in diplomatic efforts.

The address took place during a state visit, where Pope Francis met with French President Emmanuel Macron, who has previously clashed with the Vatican over issues like same-sex marriage and bioethics. In his remarks, the pope emphasized that AI must serve humanity rather than replace it, urging governments to regulate its deployment with ethical safeguards.

He also reiterated the Catholic Church’s opposition to surrogacy, stating that it reduces human life to a "commodity," a stance likely to resonate with conservative factions in France. On secularism, he stopped short of criticizing laïcité outright but called for its application to respect "the right of every person to live according to their conscience."

For Malaysia, where debates on AI governance, reproductive ethics, and religious-state relations are equally fraught, the pope’s intervention underscores growing global polarization over technology and morality. While France’s secularist model differs from Malaysia’s Islamic legal framework, both nations grapple with balancing innovation with ethical boundaries.

The next steps will depend on whether Macron’s government engages with the Vatican’s proposals, particularly on AI regulation, which could influence Malaysia’s own digital policy discussions as it seeks to avoid similar ethical dilemmas.