Pope spoke as he began a visit to France, where he is expected to address issues ranging from assisted dying and medical ethics to artificial intelligence and the future of technology.

His comments come shortly after France adopted legislation allowing assisted dying in certain circumstances for people suffering from serious and incurable illnesses. The law has faced opposition from the Catholic Church, which maintains that suffering should be met with care and support rather than assistance in ending a person’s life.

The pope said scientific progress should be guided by human wisdom and used for the common good, rather than driven primarily by financial interests.

He also expressed concern about developments such as genetic modification, surrogacy, the buying and selling of human organs and efforts to help people end their own lives.

“There are times when I am concerned about changes taking place in society that could turn science and technology into activities driven solely by financial interests,” Leo said.

The pope also called for deeper reflection on the rapid development of artificial intelligence, warning that humanity must ensure technology remains under responsible human guidance.

AI, he has said, could have an increasingly powerful role in shaping society, making it important to consider its impact on human dignity, relationships and the common good.

Leo’s visit to France comes as the country debates how far medical science should go in responding to suffering, while governments and societies around the world are also grappling with the growing influence of artificial intelligence.