Pope Francis Cancels Meetings for "mild flu-like condition"

In the written message to contest participants, Francis said he “would like to recall with you, young singers and musicians who are dedicated to promoting the values of Christmas, that the birth of Jesus was accompanied by a heavenly song, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’”

“The incarnation of Jesus Christ, who brings true peace to the world — and how much we need it today! — has inspired, over the centuries, countless artists of every language and culture, who have portrayed paths of fraternity in the world,” he said. 

“You are part of this great movement, with your originality, stories, and voices,” he added, “and it is always God’s love, made man in Jesus Christ, that speaks to your hearts.”

In his speech to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Pope Francis praised “the academy’s desire to draw attention to marginalized and poor people in its various conferences, and to include Indigenous peoples and their wisdom in its dialogues.”

He expressed his gratitude for the academy’s work to propose appropriate regulations in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), which he noted can be beneficial, and also “have serious negative implications for the general population.”

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“Furthermore, the risks of manipulative applications of artificial intelligence for shaping public opinion, influencing consumer choices, and interfering with electoral processes need to be acknowledged and prevented,” the pope added.

“At a time when crises, wars, and threats to world security seem to prevail, your own quiet contributions to the progress of knowledge in the service of our human family are all the more important for the cause of global peace and international cooperation,” he said.

Hannah Brockhaus is Catholic News Agency's senior Rome correspondent. She grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and has a degree in English from Truman State University in Missouri.