Séamus Boland Engages Pope Leo XIV on Poverty, AI, and Migration

Séamus Boland, president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Saturday to discuss critical issues including poverty, the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), and migration. Boland, a farmer and civil society advocate from Ballycumber, Co Offaly, described the meeting as “an extraordinary honour.”

The EESC serves as a platform for trade unions, employers, and civil society organizations to influence EU policy. During the meeting, Boland emphasized the urgent need to address poverty, noting that approximately 21% of people in Europe—around 90 million individuals—face poverty and social exclusion. He reminded the Pope of the EU’s significant efforts from 2010 to 2020 aimed at poverty eradication, stating, “This is a debate that needs to be rekindled again.”

Poverty and Housing Crisis Demand Attention

While housing was not a primary topic in their discussions, Boland highlighted the critical housing crisis in Europe, which he argued contributes to rising poverty levels among both young and older populations. He stated, “We in the EESC have called for the EU to declare an emergency in terms of housing.” Boland warned that the failure to address housing affordability could alienate citizens from democratic institutions.

He expressed concern that, “If current governments, whether EU member states or the EU Commission itself, don’t deliver real measures to get people back into housing, we are going to drive them away from democratic institutions.” The EESC president underscored the importance of addressing these issues, stating, “We talk about Europe being the biggest peace project on Earth. Well, we’re driving people away because we’re not delivering.”

AI Regulation and Youth Mental Health

The conversation also touched on the challenges posed by AI, particularly the dangers of deepfake technology. Boland referred to these developments as “the newest tragedy,” emphasizing their potential impact on young people using social media. He reiterated the EU’s commitment to strong regulations for AI, while acknowledging the lack of global consensus on the issue.

“The mental health of young people is becoming a major issue,” Boland noted, adding that the Pope shared his concerns. He cautioned against comparing AI to historical innovations like Gutenberg’s printing press, stressing the need for a more immediate response from political leaders across Europe to manage the implications of AI on employment.

“AI is a long way from perfection and can be unreliable,” he remarked, suggesting that reliance on AI could undermine professional standards in health, law, and journalism. Boland warned that neglecting the needs of workers displaced by AI could lead to unprecedented spikes in unemployment.

Migration Management and Human Dignity

During his visit, Boland also praised the ‘Angels Unaware’ sculpture in St Peter’s Square, a tribute to migrants and refugees unveiled by the late Pope Francis in 2019. He reiterated the importance of managing migration effectively, stating, “Managing migration badly can be a bigger threat to human dignity.”

Boland emphasized that migration is a natural part of life and that many European nations require migrants to address labor shortages. He cautioned against uncontrolled migration systems that could jeopardize the dignity and rights of newcomers. “It’s not something to be banned, but it is something to be managed, bearing in mind human dignity and rights,” he asserted.

Reflecting on the meeting, Boland felt he successfully communicated the importance of placing civil society at the heart of policymaking. He shared an example of how civil society organizations were the first responders during Storm Éowyn, highlighting the necessity of including these groups in disaster planning rather than merely in recovery efforts.

The discussions between Boland and Pope Leo XIV shed light on significant challenges facing Europe today, underscoring the need for urgent action and collaboration among governments, civil society, and international bodies to address poverty, AI, and migration.