Pope Leo urges journalists to be released from prison

Pope Leo XIV urged to release journalists’ prisoners in his first address to media members in the Vatican.

He expressed his solidarity with journalists who went to the prison “for the search and report of the truth” and stated that their suffering “challenged the conscience of nations and the international community”.

The freedom of the press must be protected, he said. The media should ensure that the “valuable gift” of free speech is protected.

The Committee on Defense of Journalists said 361 journalists were in prison in 2024.

Pope Leo, who was elected a new leader of the Catholic Church on Thursday, also emphasized the role that journalists can play attention to injustice and poverty in the world.

He urged the media to focus on the messages of the truth, not to participate in the guerrilla divisions, not to give the place of “fanaticism and hatred”.

Speaking in the Paul VI Vatican audience hall, he said, “The way we communicate is of fundamental importance: we must say” no “for the war and images, we must reject the paradigm of war.”

“We do not need a loud, strong communication,” he said, “but faster communication, capable of listening, and gathering the voices of weaknesses that have no voice.”

The new Pope also caused concern about artificial intelligence, informing the assembled media that they should use the II with “responsibility and leg.”

Reporters should guarantee that II can be used for “the benefit of all humanity,” he said.

Leo XIV spoke mostly in Italian, but opened in English about the huge round of applause he received when he entered the room.

“Thank you for this wonderful reception,” he said.

“They say that when they clapping at the beginning, it doesn’t matter. If you still wake up at the end and still want to applaud, thank you very much.”