Pope Francis arrived at the G7 summit in Puglia in Southern Italy on Friday, in an unprecedented appearance for a Catholic Church leader, addressing issues of artificial intelligence (AI) and undertaking bilateral discussions.
The 87-year-old Argentinian pontiff arrived by helicopter at midday at Borgo Egnazia, the coastal resort where leaders of the seven richest democracies are assembled. He was welcomed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Jokingly, the Pope quipped to her, "still alive? We are both," to which she responded, "it will be a long day," as shown in footage shared by the Vatican on social media.
Pope Francis will deliver a speech on AI on Friday afternoon. This illustrates the Vatican's growing interest in this revolutionary tool. The Church aims to promote its use whilst raising awareness of potential pitfalls.
Alongside his speech, Francis will hold bilateral talks with around ten state leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Joe Biden, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
This busy schedule reflects the Pope's resolve to remain influential in diplomatic relations, despite the Holy See's numerous peace efforts in Ukraine and Gaza having so far been unsuccessful.
