In his inaugural address to the media at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV has made an impassioned plea for the release of imprisoned journalists, emphasizing that their detention for seeking and reporting the truth prompts a global moral reckoning. He reaffirmed the critical importance of defending press freedom and ensuring the essential right to free speech. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, there are currently 361 journalists incarcerated worldwide as of 2024.
The new pope, who took office last week, recognized journalism's crucial role in spotlighting issues such as injustice and poverty. He urged journalists to prioritize truth over fostering political divisiveness and vowed to reject "fanaticism and hatred." Addressing attendees in the Vatican's Paul VI audience hall, Pope Leo XIV stressed, "The way we communicate is of fundamental importance: we must say 'no' to the war of words and images."
Further, he advised against confrontational communication, advocating for a more compassionate approach that listens to the marginalized voices that often go unheard. The pope expressed particular concern about the implications of artificial intelligence in journalism, calling for its responsible use to benefit humanity as a whole.
Pope Leo XIV opened his remarks in Italian but started with a light-hearted comment in English, thanking the audience for the warm applause he received as he entered. "They say that when they clap at the beginning, it doesn't matter much. If you're still awake at the end and still want to applaud, thank you very much," he quipped.
