Pope’s day at the G7 in Borgo Egnazia in Puglia began a little early. Francis took off from the Vatican heliport shortly after 10.30 am and is expected to arrive around midday, therefore half an hour earlier than previously announced. It is the first time for a Pontiff to be at the top of the world’s leaders and there is anticipation for his speech, as well as for the ten bilateral talks which show how much Pope Bergoglio is sought after by the heads of State and government in search of guidance on serious problems in the world. The search for peace, first and foremost, but also artificial intelligence with its shadows and the fight against poverty.
The ten bilaterals are divided into two rounds. P
rhyme of the speech
those with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, the Frenchman Emmanuel Macron, the prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau and the director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva. After the speech the other six: in order William Samoei Ruto, President of Kenya; Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India; Joseph Biden, President of the United States; Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil; Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Türkiye and Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Algeria.
Upon his arrival the Pope will be welcomed by the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Then the transfer by golf cart to the reserved residence, where the first bilateral talks are scheduled. At 2.05pm Meloni will officially welcome the Pope in the court of Borgo Egnazia (official photo). At 2.15 pm in the Arena Hall the Pope participates in the joint session, and delivers his speech, which is followed by other interventions. At 5.30pm the official photo of all participants. Other bilateral meetings will follow. Take-off is scheduled for 7.45pm from the Borgo Egnazia sports field. Landing at the Vatican heliport is scheduled for 9.15pm.
The Pope could take the opportunity to raise the question of canceling the foreign debt of the poorest nations in view of the Jubilee. And he will definitely talk about artificial intelligence.
Perhaps to reiterate the exhortation addressed to the Community of Nations in the message for the Day of Peace of last January 1st: “Adopt a binding international treaty, which regulates the development and use of artificial intelligence in its many forms. The aim of regulation, of course, should not only be the prevention of bad practices, but also the encouragement of good practices, stimulating new and creative approaches and facilitating personal and collective initiatives
”.
Francis has repeatedly highlighted the potential, but also the risks of AI. Risks for democracy, for peace, for correct information. And he asked for an ethical regulation. It all depends on us, he warned. That is, “it is up to man to decide whether to become food for algorithms or to nourish his heart with freedom, without which he cannot grow in wisdom”. Concepts that could also be reiterated in the presence of the world’s greats.
