Pope's response at the in-flight press conference

Speaking to journalists on the papal flight, the Pope stated that the argument that AI represents a threat to humanity is "not fake news," pushing back squarely against Trump's assertion. The exchange took place during the standard press conference held en route from Marseille to Rome.

According to Vatican News, the Pope's remarks framed the warnings about AI's risks to humanity as a legitimate concern rather than misinformation, positioning the Vatican's view in direct opposition to Trump's framing.

The Vatican's position adds a prominent moral authority to the ongoing global debate over AI safety, at a time when governments and industry leaders remain divided on how severe the technology's risks to humanity actually are.

The claim that the Pope directly rebutted Trump's characterization by saying the AI threat argument is "not fake news" is Mostly True.