Global Nobel Laureates Assembly on AI and Nuclear War: Recap, Quotes, and Video

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Global Nobel Laureates Assembly

On Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear War

Global Nobel Laureates Assembly

Disarming AI. Building Peace.

Organized by Domus Communis Foundation

July 14-16, 2026 · Borgo Laudato Si', Castel Gandolfo · Capitoline Hill, Rome

This event has taken place - a recap follows below.

On 14 July 2026, over 200 Nobel Prize winners, former heads of state, university representatives, and experts gathered among the pine trees and olive groves of the papal gardens in Castel Gandolfo to reflect on some of the greatest challenges facing our world: artificial intelligence and nuclear war.

It was the first day of the Global Nobel Laureates Assembly on Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear War, running until 16 July and inspired by Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence.

The Assembly - organized by the Domus Communis Foundation, whose President, Cardinal Silvano Maria Tomasi, took part - culminated in the signing of the Rome Declaration on an Unarmed and Disarming Peace in the age of artificial intelligence, nuclear and autonomous weapons. It set out guiding principles for the governance of AI focused on cooperation, human dignity, integral development, and peace.

Shared Principles for a Fragile Moment

"We gather at a moment in history marked by increasingly profound geopolitical tensions, the fragmentation of the international order, and intensifying technological competition," said Cardinal Fabio Baggio in his introductory remarks, underlining the importance of promoting dialogue across different fields. "At a time when the pace of innovation often exceeds that of reflection, the world stands in need of shared principles capable of guiding progress toward authentically human ends."

"This Assembly is not gathered simply to analyse risks," emphasized Cardinal Silvano Maria Tomasi, President of Domus Communis Foundation. "It is gathered to renew hope, to demonstrate that dialogue remains possible, that wisdom can still accompany knowledge, that humanity has not lost the capacity to govern its own future."

"May future generations be able to say that, at a moment when humanity possessed unprecedented power over its own destiny, women and men of conscience chose cooperation over confrontation, dialogue over fear, and hope over resignation," he added.

The Need to Govern AI

The opening session centered on the theme "Magnifica Humanitas for the Future of Our Common Home," beginning with an address by Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, who gave an overview of Pope Leo XIV's encyclical.

Juan Manuel Santos, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former president of Colombia, welcomed the encyclical's call to disarm AI, noting that "it is only by acting in a similar spirit that we can hope to tackle all existential threats facing humanity." He warned that "without effective governance, it will be difficult, impossible, to ensure that AI becomes a force for good guided by human dignity, responsibility, accountability and rule of law."

Professor Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Emeritus Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, reflected on how we are living through the end of one civilization and the beginning of the next, stressing the importance of involving young people in shaping the future of the world.

Other speakers in the opening session included Dr. Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International; Dr. Amir Banifatemi, Founder and Board Member of the International Association for Safe and Ethical AI; Professor James Muller, Co-founder of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War; Professor Karen Hallberg, Secretary General of Pugwash Conferences; and Professor David Gross, Nobel Prize in Physics.

A Three-Day Dialogue

Discussion sessions addressed themes including "The fragility of the human family in the nuclear age," "Technology in the service of humanity," and "The moral challenges of AI and War," as well as what happens when AI escapes human control.

The rest of the day featured addresses by Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Co-founder and CEO of Rappler, alongside AI researchers from Anthropic and DeepMind, offering different perspectives on the topics.

The first two days of the Assembly were held at the Borgo Laudato Si' in the papal gardens of Castel Gandolfo, while the third and final day took place at the Capitoline Hill, seat of the municipality of Rome.

The Rome Declaration

On its final day, 16 July, the Assembly concluded at the Capitoline Hill in Rome with the signing of the Rome Declaration on an Unarmed and Disarming Peace in the age of artificial intelligence, nuclear and autonomous weapons.

Signed by Nobel laureates and representatives of Nobel Peace Prize-winning organizations, the Declaration marked the culmination of three days of dialogue - setting out shared guiding principles for the governance of artificial intelligence in the service of cooperation, human dignity, integral development, and peace.

Featured Contributions

His Eminence Cardinal Silvano Maria Tomasi

President, Domus Communis Foundation

"This Assembly is not gathered simply to analyse risks. It is gathered to renew hope, to demonstrate that dialogue remains possible, that wisdom can still accompany knowledge, that humanity has not lost the capacity to govern its own future."

His Eminence Cardinal Fabio Baggio

Pro-Prefect, Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development · General Director, Center for Higher Education at Borgo Laudato Si'

"At a time when the pace of innovation often exceeds that of reflection, the world stands in need of shared principles capable of guiding progress toward authentically human ends."

His Eminence Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime

Pro-Prefect, Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life

Opened the session "Magnifica Humanitas for the Future of Our Common Home" with an overview of Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, released in May 2026.

Juan Manuel Santos

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate · Former President of Colombia

"Without effective governance, it will be difficult, impossible, to ensure that AI becomes a force for good guided by human dignity, responsibility, accountability and rule of law."

Professor Muhammad Yunus

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate · Emeritus Chief Adviser of Bangladesh

Reflected on living through the end of one civilization and the beginning of the next, stressing the importance of involving young people in shaping the future of the world.

Maria Ressa

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate · Co-founder and CEO of Rappler

Joined the discussion sessions on the risks that emerge when artificial intelligence escapes human control, offering the perspective of journalism and the defense of information integrity.

Gallery

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Video

Highlights - Global Nobel Laureates Assembly at Borgo Laudato Si'

Interview with Maria Ressa

Coverage

Read the report on Vatican News →

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