By Francesca Merlo
Pope Leo on Thursday paid homage to journalists who are working on the front lines of conflict. “If today we know what is happening in Gaza, Ukraine, and every other land bloodied by bombs, we largely owe it to them.”
As he addressed members of MINDS International—a global network of leading news agencies—the Pope described these “extraordinary eyewitness accounts” as the “culmination of the daily efforts of countless people who work to ensure that information is not manipulated for ends that are contrary to truth and human dignity.”
In a world marked by violent conflict and misinformation, the Pope called on media professionals to recognize the risks their colleagues take to ensure the world stays informed—and to honour their sacrifices by upholding the highest standards of integrity and truth.
Journalism is not a crime
In light of this, the Pope reiterated his long-standing appeal for the release of journalists who have been unjustly detained or persecuted. “Doing the work of a journalist can never be considered a crime,” he insisted. “It is a right that must be protected.”
He warned of attempts to suppress or manipulate information in the name of political or ideological interests and called on reporters and media professionals to hold fast to their vocation, even under pressure: “Your service requires competence, courage, and a sense of ethics.”
Information is a public good
The Pope’s address comes at a time in which global events demand “particular discernment and responsibility,” and during which the role of the media in forming consciences and supporting critical thinking has never been more essential… or more threatened.
Pope Leo went on to describe the paradox that “in the age of communication, news and media agencies are undergoing a period of crisis.” He added that audiences, too, are in crisis, as too often the line between truth and falsehood becomes increasingly blurred. Still, he continued, in a world saturated with information, “no one today can say, ‘I did not know’.”
Information, he stressed, is “a public good” that must be protected through responsible reporting and collaboration between citizens and journalists. A “virtuous circle” is created, he said, when the public actively supports serious and independent journalism—contributing to the health of civic life.
A call for ethical communication
Quoting Pope Francis, Pope Leo echoed the call for “courageous entrepreneurs, courageous information engineers”, to prevent the degradation of communication through clickbait, disinformation, and unfair competition. Media agencies, he noted, are on the frontlines and must find ways to balance economic sustainability with a commitment to accurate, balanced reporting.
Addressing then the rise of artificial intelligence, which he warned adds a new layer of complexity, the Pope asked: “Who controls the algorithms, who directs it, and for what purposes?” As automated systems shape how information is delivered, Pope Leo called for vigilance to ensure human beings remain at the centre – and that power over digital tools does not concentrate in the hands of a few.
Defending truth in a post-truth world
Bringing his discourse to a close, Pope Leo quoted Hannah Arendt’s The Origins of Totalitarianism, warning that the ideal subject of totalitarian regimes is not someone ideologically committed, but rather someone for whom “the distinction between fact and fiction, and the distinction between true and false no longer exist.”
In such a world, he stressed, journalists have a vital role. “With your patient and rigorous work”, he continued, “you can act as a barrier against those who, through the ancient art of lying, seek to create divisions in order to rule by dividing”. Journalists, he said, must serve as a “bulwark of civility” against the dangers of post-truth and approximation.
Pope Leo concluded by reiterating to all involved in the communications sector that transparency, accountability, and objectivity are essential; and that “the world needs free, rigorous, and objective information”. – Vatican News
