Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit UNESCO Headquarters on 25 September 2026, marking the first papal visit since Pope John Paul II's address in 1980. The visit will promote renewed humanism amid rapid technological change, focusing on protecting vulnerable populations and upholding human dignity in innovation. According to the announcement, the visit underscores a shared commitment between UNESCO and the Holy See to support human values in technological progress.
That morning, the UNESCO Forum for Youth in the Digital Era will bring together young people, artists, intellectuals, researchers, and public figures to discuss themes inspired by Pope Leo XIV's encyclical, 'Magnifica Humanitas'. This forum aims to enrich international debate and help shape new digital-age norms.
In the afternoon, Pope Leo XIV will hold a bilateral meeting with UNESCO Director-General Khaled El Enany, followed by visits to the Square of Tolerance and a UNESCO art exhibition. A high-level ceremony will feature keynote addresses from both leaders to an audience of young people, ministers, delegates, cultural figures, and university presidents.
The occasion will also see UNESCO and the Holy See sign a framework agreement to strengthen collaboration in artificial intelligence, reinforcing shared ethical standards. UNESCO's global efforts in skills, education, and ethics echo the Pope's call to protect future generations' autonomy of thought and preserve freedom of mind and critical thinking amid technological advances.
The joint message emphasizes that technological progress should be led by human values and supported by greater global cooperation to let human dignity and creativity thrive in the digital era.