Pope Francis is taking part today in the Group of Seven (G7) summit in the southern Italian region of Puglia, where he will hold 10 bilateral meetings in the hope of opening paths to peace.
A press release issued by the Holy See press office states that after his arrival by helicopter at 12:30 local time at the Borgo Egnazia resort, the venue for the summit, the Pope will meet with the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva.
After that meeting, which observers say will address the issues of poverty, hunger and inequality in the midst of serious global conflicts, the Bishop of Rome is scheduled to meet the Presidents of Ukraine and France, Vladimir Zelenski and Emmanuel Macron, as well as the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
After these talks, which will focus on the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and the search for paths to peace, Francis will be officially received at 14:10 local time by the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, the host of the summit, with whom he will have a brief exchange of views.
He will then participate in a session on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Energy, Africa and the Mediterranean, which follows the one held during the forum in the morning, without his presence, on Migration, Indo-Pacific and Economic Security.
The Pontiff will deliver a speech on AI, an issue of cardinal importance for the Catholic Church, the theme of his message for the World Day of Peace 2024, which dealt with these new technologies that «if they aggravate inequalities and conflicts cannot be considered true progress».
In his remarks this Friday he will reaffirm his call «that the rapid development of forms of Artificial Intelligence will not increase the many inequalities and injustices already present in the world, but will help to put an end to wars and conflicts, and to alleviate many forms of suffering that afflict the human family».
From 17:30 local time, after the official photo, he will hold bilateral meetings with the Presidents of Kenya, the United States, Brazil, Algeria and Turkey, William Ruto, Joe Biden, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, respectively, as well as with the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
This is the first participation of a Supreme Pontiff in a G7 summit, and takes place in one of the most dangerous and complex times for the world, with serious and growing problems, such as hunger, poverty, climate change, the risks of AI, in the midst of armed conflicts that threaten the survival of humanity.
Pope Francis will return to the Vatican at 19:45 local time, after what could be considered one of the most intense days of his pontificate.
