UNESCO welcomes Pope Leo XIV for a day of reflection on artificial intelligence, education and peace

When? Friday, 25 September 2026, from 9:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m (exact time TBC)
Where? UNESCO Headquarters, Room I and Room II
What?
- UNESCO Forum for Youth in the Digital Era – A Universal reflection on Magnifica Humanitas (9:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m)
- High-level ceremony with Pope Leo XIV (3 p.m to 4.30 p.m)
Who? Pope Leo XIV, Khaled El Enany, Director-General of UNESCO and young people, artists, intellectuals, researchers and decision-makers.
Press accreditation: Please register here before 31 August 2026. In person accreditation for media will not be possible after this date.

This visit marks the first papal visit to UNESCO in over four decades—the last being Pope John Paul II's address in 1980—and reflects a deep alignment between the priorities of the Holy See and the organization as regards the need for a renewed humanism amid rapid technological change, the protection of the most vulnerable, and the importance of placing human dignity at the heart of innovation.

On this occasion, UNESCO and the Holy See will sign a framework agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence. UNESCO’s global work on skills development, education and training, as well as the ethical standards it adopted in 2021, resonates deeply with the Pope’s most recent encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, which calls for safeguarding future generations’ autonomy of thought and ensuring that technological advances do not come at the expense of freedom of mind and critical thinking.

The shared message of UNESCO and the Vatican is clear: technological progress must remain guided by human values and be supported by stronger global cooperation to ensure that human dignity and creativity can thrive in the digital age.

Programme of the Day

In the morning, the UNESCO Forum for Youth in the Digital Era will bring together young people, artists, intellectuals, researchers and public figures to contribute to, and draw inspiration from the reflection opened by the Pope’s encyclical, while enriching international debate and helping to advance new norms for the digital age.

The arrival of Pope Leo XIV at UNESCO is foreseen at 3:00 p.m. After a bilateral with UNESCO’s Director-General at the headquarters’ library, followed by a visit to the Square of Tolerance and to the UNESCO's art exhibition at the premises, the official ceremony will begin. UNESCO’s Director-General and the Pontiff will deliver a keynote address before an audience composed of representatives of the younger generations as well as ministers and delegates, leading cultural and artistic figures, university presidents, partners of the Organization.

Logistical details

Please note that in person accreditation for media is limited and the accreditation request does not guarantee registration. A confirmation email will be sent once the accreditation period has closed on August 24.

UNESCO will offer live broadcast feed for the whole visit, as well as photos, to all media.

A limited pool of photojournalists will be welcome to cover the arrival of the Pope, as well as well as some of the other sequences of the visit.

UNESCO will also be making available live positions from the premises for a number of audiovisual journalists.

More details will be provided closer to the day.

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