Pope Leo calls on global leaders to assist Gaza, respect human rights

Pope Leo on Tuesday (May 26) called on authorities to assist the people of Gaza, who are "still not receiving humanitarian aid," days after a Gaza-bound aid flotilla was intercepted in international waters by Israeli forces.

Israel faced mounting international criticism after its national security minister released a video showing detained flotilla activists kneeling with their hands bound following the interception.

"A new appeal must be made for the respect of everyone's human rights," the pope said, replying to a question about the treatment of activists, as he left his residence in Castel Gandolfo, about 24 kilometres (15 miles) southeast of Rome.

Leo, the first U.S.-born pontiff, said the failure to provide aid is causing "protests, difficulties, and even action by those who took part in the flotilla." He renewed his appeal to world leaders to help the people of Gaza.

Speaking to journalists, the pope also said the Vatican and Anthropic were continuing talks to "seek a disarmed-artificial intelligence," a day after he presented his first encyclical alongside the tech firm's co-founder Chris Olah.

"We have seen cases today in Lebanon, for example, and in other parts of the world, where war is now waged using AI, without any thought for human lives," he said.

Production: Matteo Negri/Reuters