Paris: UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany on Friday underscored the agency's alignment with the Holy See on issues like artificial intelligence (AI) ethics and cultural dialogue, as Pope Leo XIV prepares to visit UNESCO's Paris headquarters next week.
"By choosing UNESCO, it's a confirmation of 74 years of long-standing partnership between the Holy See and UNESCO," El-Enany said.
Both institutions have raised concerns over the implications of AI. El-Enany stressed that AI offers opportunities for enhancing education, cultural accessibility, and combating misinformation, but warned of significant risks if left unchecked.
"If AI is in the wrong hands, it can be very harmful," he said, advocating for ethical and inclusive AI development.
Pope Leo XIV, due to visit UNESCO next Friday, recently addressed AI's dual potential during a general audience in Vatican City.
"Technological development and artificial intelligence are breaking down barriers and bridging distances," he said, while cautioning against delegating decisions of human conscience to algorithms. "There is a risk of relationships becoming less personal, more virtual," he added.
The visit comes as UNESCO faces budget constraints following the United States' withdrawal last year under President Donald Trump, costing the agency 8% of its funding.
Pope Leo XIV, the first US pontiff, is also scheduled to celebrate Mass at Notre-Dame Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site that reopened in 2024 after extensive restoration following a fire.