Séamus Boland Discusses Poverty and AI with Pope Leo XIV

Séamus Boland, president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Saturday, where they engaged in discussions on pressing issues such as poverty, the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), and migration. Boland, a farmer and civil society advocate from Ballycumber, Co Offaly, expressed that it was “an extraordinary honour” to have an audience with the Pope, highlighting the empathy shared during their conversation.

The dialogue began with a focus on poverty, a critical issue affecting approximately 90 million people in Europe, or about 21 percent of the population. Boland emphasized the urgency of addressing poverty and recalled a period from 2010 to 2020 when the European Union prioritized poverty eradication efforts. He urged that “this debate needs to be rekindled again” to effectively address the growing crisis, including the significant challenges posed by housing shortages.

“We didn’t discuss housing today, but housing across Europe is causing enormous poverty among young, working people and older people,” Boland noted. He called on the EU to declare a housing emergency, warning that failure to provide adequate housing could fuel extremism and alienate citizens from democratic institutions. “If current governments don’t deliver real measures to get people back into housing, we are driving them away from democratic institutions,” he warned.

Boland also raised concerns regarding the rapid development of AI technologies, particularly the emergence of deepfake tools, which he described as “the newest tragedy” affecting young people on social media. He stated that the EU supports stringent regulations on AI, although global consensus on this issue remains elusive.

“The mental health of young people is becoming a major issue, and again, the Pope shared empathy on the plight of young people in those circumstances,” Boland remarked. He underscored the potential job losses that could arise from AI advancements, emphasizing that political leaders in Europe must take urgent action to address the implications for workers.

“AI is a long way from perfection and can be unreliable,” he said. “If we ignore the livelihoods of workers who lose their jobs because of AI, we are creating a spike in unemployment almost at rates we’ve never known before.”

Migration and Human Dignity

During his visit, Boland praised the ‘Angels Unaware’ sculpture in St Peter’s Square, dedicated to migrants and refugees. He noted that the sculpture conveys a powerful message about the importance of kindness towards foreigners, a principle echoed by Pope Leo XIV.

“Migration is an essential part of normal life; it always has been,” Boland stated, emphasizing the necessity of managing migration effectively. He argued that poorly managed migration could pose a greater threat to human dignity, a central theme in the Pope’s teachings.

“We have to accept that many countries in Europe need migrants. What we don’t need is uncontrolled management of the system,” he added, advocating for policies that uphold the dignity and rights of migrants while ensuring their humane treatment.

Reflecting on the meeting, Boland highlighted the importance of integrating civil society into policymaking processes. He shared insights about the role of civil society organizations in responding to crises, such as Storm Éowyn, stressing that their involvement should not be limited to disaster recovery but should also encompass proactive planning.

In conclusion, Boland’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV served as a significant platform to address critical social issues, reinforcing the need for urgent action and compassionate governance in Europe.