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In a powerful message delivered just days after his election, Pope Leo XIV called for the immediate release of journalists imprisoned for “seeking and reporting the truth.”
Speaking on Monday, May 12, during his first official audience with members of the press, the newly elected Pope — formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost — addressed journalists gathered at the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall. He praised the courage of reporters working in dangerous conditions and emphasized the importance of responsible communication.
“Peace begins with each one of us — in the way we look at others, listen to others, and speak about others,” he said. “We must say ‘no’ to the war of words and images. We must reject the paradigm of war.”
Pope Leo expressed deep solidarity with reporters who risk their lives to uncover and report the truth, especially those detained or persecuted in the line of duty. “The Church stands with journalists imprisoned for telling the truth, and I ask for their release,” he declared.
Highlighting the role of a free press in a democratic society, the Pope continued: “Only informed individuals can make free choices. The suffering of these journalists challenges the conscience of the world. It is a call to protect the fundamental right to free speech and a free press.”
According to Reporters Without Borders, 550 journalists were detained globally in 2024 as of December 1 — a stark reminder of the ongoing risks faced by those who report from the frontlines of war, poverty, and injustice.
While affirming his support, the Pope also reminded media professionals of their immense responsibility. “Let us disarm communication of all prejudice, resentment, fanaticism, and hatred,” he urged. “We do not need loud, forceful communication, but communication that listens — that amplifies the voices of the voiceless.”
To those covering conflict and crisis, he offered a challenge: “I ask you to choose consciously and courageously the path of communication in favor of peace.”
