President Joe Biden and Pope Francis discussed the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and a hostage deal to address the critical humanitarian crisis in Gaza during their private meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Puglia, Italy. The White House emphasized the importance of these issues following the meeting. President Biden also expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for his efforts to address the humanitarian impacts of the war in Ukraine and his advocacy for the poor, persecuted, and those affected by climate change and conflict worldwide.
This meeting between President Biden and Pope Francis holds significance, especially in an election year, as it may help increase support among Catholic voters. U.S. presidents meeting with popes has become a common practice since President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s meeting with Pope John XXIII in 1959. In recent polls, a majority of Catholic voters have shown a preference for former President Trump over President Biden, particularly among white, non-Hispanic voters. However, Hispanic voters tend to favor President Biden over his predecessor.
The discussion between President Biden and Pope Francis also touched upon the ethical development and use of artificial intelligence (AI), a key priority for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who hosted this year’s G7 summit. The Vatican’s “Rome Call for AI Ethics” initiative, supported by companies like Microsoft, IBM, and Cisco, aims to address the ethical implications of AI technology. President Biden highlighted the rapid technological changes expected in the next five years and urged G7 leaders to cooperate in managing the potential risks associated with AI. Please rewrite this sentence.
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