During a press conference held on the papal plane while returning to Rome after his pastoral visit to France on September 28, the Pope addressed plans for overseas visits next year, stating, “The schedule has not yet been finalized; we are preparing the itinerary for next year, and the only trip currently confirmed is the Seoul WYD in Korea.”
The remarks came in response to a question from a reporter with the German Catholic news agency KNA regarding plans to visit Germany. The Pope explained that while he had received an invitation to visit Germany and wished to visit various countries—not just Germany—no specific schedule had been set yet. During a 23-minute in-flight press conference, the Pope answered questions on a wide range of topics—including his 2027 overseas travel plans, artificial intelligence (AI), sexual abuse within the Church, the rise of the far-right in Europe, the housing crisis, and the issue of assisted dying in France.
Notably, when asked if he feared that AI might pose a serious threat to humanity or even lead to its destruction, the Pope replied, "If you ask whether I am in a state of panic over it, the answer is no; I sleep well at night."
However, he emphasized the need to take seriously the risks raised by AI experts. "We must take the concerns raised by many AI experts seriously; I do not view them as 'fake news' fabricated for financial gain or other motives, as some claim," he stated.
The Pope mentioned recent reports that the CEO of Nvidia had found a way to implement safety measures for AI. However, he pointed out, "At the same time, he is the very person who has argued against placing limits on AI or having governments regulate it."
He added, "I believe this is an issue we need to discuss by putting our heads together," expressing his hope that political leaders, figures from the AI industry, and civil society organizations would collaborate to discuss the changes and risks associated with AI.
When asked what the United States and China should do to ensure AI technology develops in a way that is safe for humanity, he emphasized—without explicitly naming the two nations—that the risks posed by AI must not be ignored. The Pope stated, “The Holy See has formed its own committee, and we have been receiving numerous inquiries from people across various sectors following the release of the encyclical *Nobis Humanitas*.” He added, “We are continuing dialogue and research to find ways to ensure that AI does not lead to the destruction of humanity or a situation where humans are excluded.”
He also addressed the issue of sexual violence within the Church. On September 27, during his visit to France, the Pope held a private meeting lasting about two hours with seven victims of sexual violence in Lourdes. Following the meeting, Jérôme Guillemant, one of the victims, remarked that he gained the impression the Pope views sexual violence within the Church as a “systemic” issue.
Regarding this, the Pope explained that while it is true several victims used the term “systemic abuse,” he personally prefers to express the matter differently.
The Pope said, “Sexual violence is, above all, a human issue; however, when it occurs within the Church, it takes on a different dimension, as it leaves deep wounds in people’s lives of faith and can sometimes even shatter their faith entirely.”
He continued, “The Church bears a special responsibility to walk alongside victims and help them find healing. While the Church has been perceived as bearing some responsibility in this regard, it must simultaneously play a crucial role in assisting victims on their path to healing.”
Reflecting on his four-day pastoral visit to France, the Pope cited the pilgrimage to Lourdes and the overnight prayer vigil with 80,000 young people near Paris as the most memorable moments. The Pope remarked, “The four days were literally filled with abundant blessings—so much so that I would almost call it a miracle—especially the time spent walking alongside the many sick and suffering people in Lourdes.”
He continued, “I witnessed the grace of God’s presence manifesting in various ways, touching hearts and transforming lives; this restores the dignity of the sick, the elderly, and those cast aside by society.”
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