Pope Leo XIV has declared his support for journalists who suffer for reporting the truth.
“The suffering of imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations and the international community, calling all of us to safeguard the precious gift of free speech,” Pope Leo XIV said on Monday.
“The Church recognises in these witnesses, those who report on war at the cost of their lives — the courage of those who defend dignity, justice, and the right of people to be informed, because only informed individuals can make free choices.”
The Pope was addressing hundreds of reporters and editors in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, four days after his election on May 8, 2025.
He said Media workers stood at the forefront of “conflicts and aspirations for peace, situations of injustice and poverty”, and should “consciously and courageously” choose the path of communication for peace.
“We do not need loud forceful communication, but rather communication capable of listening and gathering the voices of the weak who have no voice,” he said.
“Let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred. Let us free it from aggression — by disarming words, we will help to disarm the world.”
Pope Leo urged journalists to resist mediocrity, as well as “stereotypes and clichés”, and to say no to the war of words. “Disarmed and disarming communication allows us to share a different view of the world and to act in a manner consistent with our human dignity,” he said.
“Peace begins with each one of us: in the way we look at others, listen to others, and speak about others.”
The Pope will meet diplomats accredited to the Vatican on Friday, ahead of his formal inauguration as the 267th pope since St Peter, and the first native English speaker since the 12th century Pope Hadrian IV, at a ceremony at the Vatican on Sunday attended by world leaders.
