President Claudia Sheinbaum said she will continue to press for Pope León XIV to visit Mexico after reiterating her invitation during a phone call.
The visit is significant because it would address the spiritual needs of Mexican believers and engage the Pope's influence on the regulation of artificial intelligence. Sheinbaum said the Pope has become a global reference in the debate over AI ethics and regulation [1].
The invitation was emphasized on Dec. 12, 2026 [1], a date coinciding with the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe. During a morning press conference in Mexico City, Sheinbaum said she discussed the conversation she had with the pontiff [2].
"En esta fecha tan especial para el pueblo de México, conversé por llamada telefónica con su santidad el papa León XIV para invitarlo a visitar nuestro país," Sheinbaum said [3].
Sheinbaum said the Pope sends blessings to the people of Mexico [1]. The push for the visit comes after the Vatican's itinerary had omitted Mexico. The president said the visit could potentially take place in 2026 [4].
The request blends cultural tradition with modern governance. By linking the visit to the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Sheinbaum connects a pillar of Mexican national identity with the diplomatic goal of bringing the head of the Catholic Church to the country.
Beyond the religious aspect, the administration views the Pope's expertise in technology as a strategic asset. The potential visit would allow Mexico to engage in high-level discussions regarding how AI affects society and human rights, topics the Pope has championed on a global stage [1].
“the Pope has become a global reference in the debate on regulating artificial intelligence”
This diplomatic effort signals Sheinbaum's intent to align Mexico with the Vatican's emerging stance on AI ethics. By bridging a deeply traditional religious event with a futuristic policy debate, the Mexican government is attempting to leverage the Pope's moral authority to bolster its own position in the global conversation on technological regulation.
