All posts tagged: Holy See

Silicon Valley takes its AI pitch to the pope – POLITICO

Silicon Valley takes its AI pitch to the pope – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Now an expert with the Holy See, Salobir chairs the executive committee of the Human Technology Foundation, an organization that promotes ethical reflection on technology and counts Google, Palantir and Qualcomm among its members. Working with the French Embassy to the Holy See, Salobir helped launch a “French AI Observatory in Rome” in 2024, creating a forum for closed-door exchanges between the technology sector and Vatican officials. Starting under Pope Francis, they have grown more frequent recently. The April 29 meeting was one of those. In addition to Salobir and the French government official El Haïry, those attending the meeting included Benoit Tabaka, director of institutional relations and public policy for Google in southern Europe; Claire Scharwatt , head of public policy at Amazon France; Claudia Trivilino, public policy manager for Italy and Greece at Meta; and Adrien Abecassis, director of policy initiatives at the Paris Peace Forum and a former adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron. The focus of the gathering was child protection in the age of AI, but the discussion quickly widened …

Pope Leo to visit France in September – POLITICO

Pope Leo to visit France in September – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

His trip to France, as well as a previously announced June visit to Spain, showcases the Vatican leader’s interest in building ties with secular Catholic countries in Europe. It will be the first papal visit to France in 18 years. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the news Saturday, sharing on social media that “we are delighted that His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has confirmed his trip to France. This visit next September will be an honor for our country, a joy for Catholics, and a great moment of hope for everyone.” Macron visited the Vatican in April, where he extended once more the invitation from the president of the French Bishops’ Conference (CEF), Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline. “It’s a great joy, but also a great responsibility,” said Aveline on Saturday. The pontiff will also travel to Lourdes, a renowned Catholic pilgrimage site in southwest France. Pope Leo is also scheduled to visit Spain in June, when he will meet Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Madrid and also travel to Barcelona and the Canary Islands. Source …

Pope says world ‘is being ravaged by tyrants’ as row with Trump continues – POLITICO

Pope says world ‘is being ravaged by tyrants’ as row with Trump continues – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Members of the Trump administration have portrayed the U.S. and Israel’s war on Iran as a religious crusade. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last month claimed troops participating in the operation were being protected by “the providence of our almighty God.” On Thursday he erroneously cited a Bible verse while describing the rescue of a downed pilot, compared reporters to the self-righteous Pharisees of the Bible, and said U.S. troops were fighting “in the name of Jesus Christ.” The religious references have irked the pope, who has been one of the war’s most vocal opponents. “God does not bless any conflict,” the pontiff wrote on X earlier this month. “Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.” Trump lashed out at the pope last Sunday, when he took to Truth Social to call Leo “weak” on crime and “terrible” on foreign policy. The pontiff responded by telling reporters travelling with him on the papal plane on Monday …

Vatican appeals court declares mistrial in the ‘trial of the century’ against a cardinal

Vatican appeals court declares mistrial in the ‘trial of the century’ against a cardinal

Published by Sam Flores

ROME (AP) — The Vatican appeals tribunal declared a mistrial Tuesday in the Holy See’s big “trial of the century,” a stunning blow to both Pope Francis’ legacy and Vatican prosecutors who had put a cardinal and several other people on trial over alleged financial crimes. In a 16-page ruling, the appeals court ruled that Francis and Vatican prosecutors both made procedural errors that nullified the original indictment against Cardinal Angelo Becciu and the others and required a new trial. The court set a June 22 as the date for the new trial to begin. Defense lawyers said such a ruling was enormously significant if not historic, since it amounted to a Vatican court declaring that an act of the pope had no effect. The ruling was a win for the defense and a huge setback to Vatican prosecutors, who have been scrambling to salvage their case. The prosecution and 2023 convictions against Becciu and others had been held up by the Vatican and late pope as evidence of his willingness to crack down on financial misconduct in …