Human dignity must be protected from rise of AI, Pope says
During Tuesday's speech, the Pope called on the world to protect "our ability to listen and speak" in a "new era"."We have a duty to work together to develop a way of thinking, to develop a language, of our time, that gives voice to love," the Pope said.He also urged social media influencers to seek out "those who suffer and need to know the Lord" with their content."Be agents of communion, capable of breaking down the logic of division and polarisation, of individualism and egocentrism," he added.
During first Sunday address in May, Pope Leo XIV suggested that the development of AI, and other advances, meant the Church was necessary for the defence of human dignity and justice.Pope Leo XIV, who studied maths at Philadelphia's Villanova University in 1977, is the first pontiff from the United States.Born in Chicago in 1955 to parents of Spanish and Franco-Italian descent, Leo served as an altar boy and was ordained in 1982.Although he moved to Peru three years later, he returned regularly to the US to serve as a priest and a prior in his home city.He has Peruvian nationality and is fondly remembered as a figure who worked with marginalised communities and helped build bridges.
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The National
11 hours ago
- The National
Faslane protest planned to make calls to end nuclear weapons
More than 100 people are set to gather outside HM Naval Base Clyde in a peace vigil led by representatives of Scotland's largest Christian churches on Saturday, August 2. It will mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombs being dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan during World War II. It is estimated that 140,000 people in Hiroshima were killed and at least 74,000 people died in Nagasaki in August 1945, leading to the Japanese government surrendering on September 2 of that year, ending the war. READ MORE: Join our in-person event in Glasgow with Peter Oborne on Gaza The "No To Nuclear Weapons" gathering at the South Gate of the naval base on Maidstone Road from 10.30am to 12pm is being organised by Justice and Peace Scotland. Most Rev William Nolan, Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow and Bishop-President of Justice and Peace Scotland, Rt Rev Rosie Frew, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and Most Rev Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, are leading the event. They will be joined by representatives from the Quakers, the Iona Community, the United Reformed Church and more than 100 people of faith who will stand in solidarity to "renew a shared commitment to the common good and the flourishing of creation". The groups say they will come together for "prayer and reflection on the immorality of possessing nuclear weapons at a time when conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe are ongoing". The current generation of such warheads – held by nine nations – is understood to be 80 times more powerful than those dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Archbishop William Nolan said: 'The phrase 'never again' gained much currency 80 years ago. 'But the actions of nuclear powers, including our own, run contrary to that. 'As the late Pope Benedict articulated, the very concept of nuclear deterrence has instead fuelled an arms race as those on opposing sides keep seeking to outdo the other. 'We have seen this in the replacement for Trident. Deterrence itself, therefore, has increased insecurity and does nothing to build up trust which is necessary to encourage disarmament and build up peace.' HM Naval Base Clyde is home to the Royal Navy's four Vanguard-class submarines – HMS Vanguard, Vengeance, Victorious and Vigilant – which each carry Trident 2 D5 nuclear missiles. READ MORE: Israel kill 37 in Gaza as US special envoy Steve Witkoff visits aid sites Described as Britain's nuclear deterrent and ultimate defence, they can be fired at targets up to 4000 miles away. Rev Rosie Frew said: 'On the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it seems right to stand with other Christians saying 'No' to nuclear weapons and 'Yes' to peace. 'My hope and prayer is to live in a world without war or the threat of war, a world without the threat of the deployment of nuclear weapons. 'I know opinion is very divided on holding nuclear weapons but I don't believe anyone would ever wish them to be deployed, both those who will gather outside and those who serve in HM Naval Base Clyde. 'The Church of Scotland stands in solidarity with all those who work at Faslane in the service of the United Kingdom, while praying for peace in a world where there is no threat of nuclear weapons ever being used.'
Glasgow Times
13 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
More than 100 to attend peace vigil at Faslane naval base
The event will take place outside HM Naval Base on the Clyde (Faslane) at the south gate on Maidstone Road from 10.30am to 12pm on Saturday, August 2. It will mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan during the Second World War. Read more: 'Large helicopters' to take over skies in army exercise The gathering is organised by Justice and Peace Scotland and led by senior figures from Scotland's three largest Christian churches. Participants will include the Most Rev William Nolan, Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow and Bishop-president of Justice and Peace Scotland; Rt Rev Rosie Frew, moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland; and the Most Rev Mark Strange, primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church. They will be joined by representatives from the Quakers, the Iona Community, the United Reformed Church and other faith groups. The event will include prayers and reflection on the 'immorality of possessing nuclear weapons' amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Organisers warn the risk posed by the UK's 'soon-to-be upgraded and expanded' nuclear arsenal is greater than in recent memory. Archbishop Nolan said: 'The phrase 'never again' gained much currency 80 years ago. 'But the actions of nuclear powers, including our own, run contrary to that. 'As the late Pope Benedict articulated, the very concept of a nuclear deterrence has instead fuelled an arms race as those on opposing sides keep seeking to outdo the other. 'We have seen this in the replacement for Trident. 'Deterrence itself, therefore, has increased insecurity and does nothing to build up trust which is necessary to encourage disarmament and build up peace.' HM Naval Base Clyde, located on the Gare Loch near Helensburgh, is home to the Royal Navy's four Vanguard-class submarines, which carry [[Trident]] 2 D5 nuclear missiles. These weapons are estimated to be 80 times more powerful than those dropped on Japan in 1945. Read more: Army veteran credits Paisley support centre with helping him rebuild confidence Rt Rev Rosie Frew said: 'On the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it seems right to stand with other Christians saying no to nuclear weapons and yes to peace. 'My hope and prayer is to live in a world without war or the threat of war, a world without the threat of the deployment of nuclear weapons. 'I know opinion is very divided on holding nuclear weapons but I don't believe anyone would ever wish them to be deployed, both those who will gather outside and those who serve in HM Naval Base Clyde. 'The Church of Scotland stands in solidarity with all those who work at Faslane in the service of the United Kingdom, while praying for peace in a world where there is no threat of nuclear weapons ever being used.'
Times
2 days ago
- Times
Times letters: British recognition of a Palestinian state
Write to letters@ Sir, Lord Hermer, the attorney-general, must surely advise the prime minister that Palestine does not meet the four international law criteria for recognition of a state, namely: a defined territory, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. There is no certainty over its borders; many of the residents of the territories are described as refugees, by definition living outside their own country and waiting to be resettled elsewhere; there is no one government; and such governments as there are, Fatah and Hamas, do not appear capable of making binding treaties or of joining DeechHouse of Lords Sir, The situation in Gaza is deplorable and it would be understandable if Britain applied pressure on Israel through economic sanctions. However, moderate liberals in Israel who have for decades backed a two-state solution no longer support that process. How can a two-state solution be imposed on the only democracy in the Middle East when no party in Israel will be elected in the foreseeable future to give effect to it? Futile gesture politics by Britain weakens our standing in the BernsteinStoney Stanton, Leics Sir, The PM says he plans to recognise Palestine as a state if Israel does not comply with certain conditions. How on earth can statehood be contingent upon the actions of another government? Either the Palestinians are ready to become an independent nation or they are SharmanLondon N20 Sir, I look forward to Sir Keir Starmer's definition of the borders of Palestine. Bertrand Russell said that, for a peaceful solution, Israel must return to its pre-June 1967 borders. Starmer should be aware of this when he issues his final proposal. I trust he will also make provision to ensure there is no Israeli encircling blockade and that Palestinians have the same freedoms of travel as the citizens of other DiproseThame, Oxon Sir, Those who object to the recognition of a Palestinian state on the grounds that it is impossible and illogical to do so without knowing its borders appear to forget that Israel is the only state that has consistently refused to declare its own borders. Should it therefore also be denied recognition?Brendan RussellEsher, Surrey Sir, The recognition of Palestinian statehood is a right, not a bargaining tool; it must be unconditional, as was the establishment of Israel. Statehood for what remains of Palestine is now an urgent and essential first step to prevent its complete MallettEsher, Surrey Sir, Marco Rubio says that recognising Palestine 'only serves Hamas propaganda'. A much greater boost for Hamas propaganda is the indiscriminate killing of women and children in Gaza, the use of starvation as a weapon of war, the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory in the West Bank and the refusal to accept the internationally approved agreement of a two-state solution. Benjamin Netanyahu has done more as a recruiting sergeant for Hamas than anything it could ever have achieved without DalyGlasgow Sir, Daniel Finkelstein neatly sets out the reasons why an an inquiry is unnecessary but, if the Orgreave coals must be raked over then they should be done (as he suggests) in the widest possible context. Local police officers stood shoulder to shoulder (with constables from Hull, Harlow and Halifax) for months and, with the minimal protection offered by a gabardine mac and a wooden stick, tried to ensure that those wishing to work could do so ('Orgreave inquiry serves no one but Labour', Jul 30). Why were certain policing decisions made? Because it was 40 years ago and that's the way things were done. Why did thousands of Nottinghamshire miners (and others) form a breakaway union? Because they were fed up with being dictated to by Arthur Scargill — a stubborn leader and Marxist who denied them a chance to vote — and who ensured the demise of his own industry and sped up wider union HillMetropolitan Police constable (ret'd), Pirton, Herts Sir, Amid all the focus on pay, there is a tendency to gloss over the fact that 30,000 competent applicants for training for 10,000 specialist places is a planning catastrophe carried out by the Department of Health, Health Education England, the Treasury, regional NHS deaneries and others over a 20-year period ('Thousands of junior doctors cannot find jobs in NHS', Jul 30). The BMA would do well to concentrate on this rather than many other areas for the future benefit of its members. There needs to be a specific inquiry into this lasting fewer than 12 months, recommending change and naming — and taking sanctions against — specific individuals. Clearly no post should be given to an overseas graduate initially when there is a competent UK-trained candidate available. This is a planning scandal almost without precedent even in the NHS. Needless to say, the availability of suitable training posts needs to increase massively and rapidly. It's not as if there aren't enough patients requiring Anthony Goldstone FRCPFormer medical director, UCLH NHS Trust; Radlett, Herts Sir, Professor Roger Seifert (letter, Jul 29) raises some valid objections to reducing the rights of public-sector workers but is wrong to suppose that removing legal immunities from public sector strikes means that strikers could be 'arrested and dragged off to jail'. Section 236 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 prevents a court from granting an order that compels an employee to work. Consequently, injunctions against unlawful strikes are granted against the organisers (typically the union), which will then withdraw the strike instruction. An employee who goes on strike when the instruction has been withdrawn may face dismissal but will not be breaching a court order or committing any Jeans KC11 King's Bench Walk, Temple Sir, Tony Lodge (Thunderer, Jul 28; letters, Jul 30) rightly concludes that ministers should prioritise growth in our railways to provide a better and more sustainable network. However, he could have been more optimistic. Passenger revenues are increasing and have returned strongly since the pandemic, with the Office of Rail and Road recently reporting growth of 8 per cent year on year. Passenger numbers have returned robustly, with Department for Transport data indicating they grew to a daily average of 104 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in May 2025. Research commissioned by the Railway Industry Association shows that passenger demand will increase by 37 per cent to 97 per cent in the next 25 years, depending on government rail policy. Freight growth is also strong with a 5.1 per cent rise in volumes from April 2024 to March 2025, according to Network Rail. Lodge is right to recognise the need to leverage existing assets such as the railway estate, including stations, but there is also a need to expand rail to accommodate existing customer growth, especially as commuting continues to increase steadily as more workers return to the CaplanCEO, Railway Industry Association Sir, The argument over the private (debenture) seat holders and their automatic right to have access to tickets overlooks the effect of the £40 million-plus allocated some 20 years ago by the National Lottery ('Trial will settle the score on gig tickets', Jul 30). This enabled the Albert Hall to increase the seating in the circle and to modify the arena to allow an extra row of seats in the stalls. However, of much more significance was the greatly improved backstage access provided by way of a subway entrance. This has allowed much quicker turnarounds and a greatly increased number of annual performances. Both these improvements have given the seat holders an increased income from their 'investments'. The quid pro quo, had the National Lottery been on the ball, would have been to loosen the stranglehold exercised by the seat holders whose income from reselling seats, as a result of the lottery funding, has greatly GubbayLondon SW1 Sir, Further to your report 'Online child safety law 'threatens free speech' ' (Jul 29) and leading article ('Balancing Harms', Jul 30), more than 300 million children have been affected by online child sexual exploitation and abuse in the past 12 months. As survivors of child sex abuse, we know that the damage done to children goes far beyond the screen. It destroys lives. We also know that an unregulated internet leaves children dangerously exposed to predators. All countries need to bring in protection for our children. The UK has led the way with its Online Safety Act. To scrap these safeguards in one of the few countries where they presently exist would be precisely the wrong thing to Daniela LigieroFounder, the Brave Movement Sir, Further to James Marriott's article 'Tech bros threaten to make serfs of us all' (Jul 29), there is no need to wait for the tech bros as off-shore financial bodies have already made us serfs by swallowing up small businesses and forcing us to shop online (as there is little alternative), with the result that high streets are hollowed out, commercial and retail premises boarded up, dental and veterinary practices either non-existent or where available able to charge exorbitant fees. Within a generation corporate greed has replaced a once great nation of Nigel Jackson-StevensBarnstaple, Devon Sir, There has indeed been a decline in many aspects of National Health Service working conditions (letters, Jul 28-30). As a pre-registration house surgeon in Nottingham in 1973 I was routinely brought an early morning cup of tea in bed by the residency staff. If one asked nicely, two cups were brought on MurrayLittle Gaddesden, Herts Sir, Martin Jeeves (letter, Jul 29) is correct in recognising the importance of the Power Press Regulations 1965 in protecting factory workers. Sadly, factory workers were able to over-ride the cage protection system. Workers on 'piece rates' disabled the system to achieve their targets, allowing them more 'down time'. Horrendous injuries continued after ReardonLondon E1 Sir, Antonia Hoyle calls her clothes 'ancient' if they are as little as ten years old ('This old thing! I only buy cheap clothes — and I'm proof they last', Times2, Jul 30). My oldest garment is a faux fur coat bought in 1956 for £26. The maker was Motoluxe, which was renowned at the turn of the century for making warm motoring coats, mainly for men. My mother was disappointed that I bought the style I liked rather than choosing real fur. I made up for this by telling people my coat was made from the skins of genuine wild MacdonaldKnebworth, Herts Write to letters@
