Pope Leo XIV denounces growing investment in artificial intelligence and high-tech weaponry, warning it pushes the world toward a “spiral of annihilation.” Multiple outlets report that the Pope makes the remarks during a visit to Rome’s La Sapienza University, described as Europe’s largest university, where he calls for peace in the Middle East and in Ukraine. Several summaries say he links the rise in AI-directed warfare to broader spending priorities, arguing that military spending increases this year while education and healthcare receive less attention. One outlet also reports that the Pope’s message forms part of a wider Vatican effort to address autonomous weapons, including references to concerns about “killer robots” and the dangers of autonomous weapon systems. Overall, the coverage is consistent that the Pope’s central theme is the perceived escalation risk from AI-enabled military capabilities, and his stated response is renewed attention to peace efforts and increased oversight. Sources agree on the key warning phrase and the general policy call, while differing in emphasis between budget impacts and autonomous weapons regulation.