Leo XIV urges journalists to choose words of peace, calls for jailed reporters to be freed
The pontiff met in the Paul VI Hall with representatives of the media that covered the death of Pope Francis and the conclave. Speaking about imprisoned journalists, he said that their suffering “challenges the conscience of nations and the international community”. Following his predecessor, he called for disarming “communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred”. Asked about a possible trip to Turkey for the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, he said: "We are preparing for it.”
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Since the death of Pope Francis, the eyes of the world have not stopped looking at the Vatican. They did so thanks to the more than 6,000 journalists and media staff accredited to the Holy See Press Office who came to Rome from 90 countries to cover the Conclave.
Pope Leo XIV met them today at the first general audience of his pontificate, in the Paul VI Hall.
They, or rather we, since AsiaNews was also present, have experienced up close what the Pope called "truly special days". “I sincerely hope that each of us can say that these days unveiled a little bit of the mystery of our humanity and left us with a desire for love and peace,” he said.
The appearance of the new pontiff on the platform of the Paul VI Hall was preceded by at least seven minutes of absolute silence. At 10:53 am, the Swiss Guards came in and took their place, prelude to the Pope’s entrance. The chatter of over 5,000 colleagues who shared "tiring days" immediately stopped.
Paul VI Hall was about three-quarters full. Breathless, everyone’s eyes were fixed on the side door framed in the Vatican live broadcast. At 11 am, Pope Leo XIV came in and sat on a chair in the centre of the platform, welcomed by a long applause.
“Good morning and thank you for this wonderful reception! They say when they clap at the beginning it does not matter much, if you are still awake at the end and you still want to applaud,” he said with a big smile in English.
Turning to his prepared text, in Italian, he addressed those present quoting Pope Francis from the Jubilee of the World of Communication: “Let us disarm words and we will help to disarm the world. 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.”
“For this reason, I ask you to choose consciously and courageously the path of communication in favour of peace,” he said, addressing the journalists who “are at the forefront of reporting on conflicts and aspirations for peace, on situations of injustice and poverty.”
Pope Leo XIV turned to “the Sermon on the Mount,” in which Jesus proclaimed: “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Mt 5:9). This Beatitude, he said, "challenges all of us, [. . .] calling each one of you to strive for a different kind of communication, one that does not seek consensus at all costs, does not use aggressive words, does not follow the culture of competition”.
He spoke again about peace, a theme that already marked the beginning of his pontificate. “Peace begins with each one of us: in the way we look at others, listen to others and speak about others.” But also by the way you communicate. “[W]e must say ‘no’ to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war,” the pope added.
He went on to highlight the “Church’s solidarity with journalists who are imprisoned for seeking to report the truth,” and called “for the release of these imprisoned journalists,” sparking a deafening applause that reached the back of the hall.
More than 500 journalists were jailed in 2024, according to the latest report by Reporters without Borders (RsF). Asia holds the record with China leading the way with 115 cases, followed by Myanmar with 70.
“The Church recognises in these witnesses,” Leo XIV said, “the courage of those who defend dignity, justice and the right of people to be informed, because only informed individuals can make free choices.”
One of these witnesses is Jimmy Lai, who was jailed by Chinese authorities in 2023 under a national security law. He founded the Apple Daily newspaper with which he advocated for democracy in Hong Kong. In the former British crown colony, extraditions to mainland China are back on the agenda of the local legislature for "complex cases" like his, that seemingly come with foreign involvement.
The Gaza Strip is another place that cannot be easily forgotten. In the past 17 months, it has become the deadliest place on Earth for journalists with more than 200 killed by Israel.
“The suffering of these imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations and the international community, calling on all of us to safeguard the precious gift of free speech and of the press,” the pope said. “Thank you, dear friends, for your service to the truth.”
The Holy Father also expressed gratitude for the journalists’ efforts “to move beyond stereotypes and clichés through which we often interpret Christian life”.
He also mentioned today's communication “challenges”, which is not only about “the transmission of information, but it is also [about] the creation of a culture, of human and digital environment.”.
“I am thinking in particular of artificial intelligence, with its immense potential, which nevertheless requires responsibility and discernment,” he said.
Citing Francis once again, he said: “let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred; let us free it from aggression. We do not need loud, forceful communication, but rather communication that is capable of listening and of gathering the voices of the weak who have no voice.”
Speaking of recent weeks in the Vatican, Leo XIV pointed to the various moments: “the liturgies of Holy Week", followed by “the sorrow felt over the death of Pope Francis, and the Conclave, "a time of Grace" for the Church. Journalists burst in an applause upon hearing the name of the late pontiff, momentarily interrupting Leo’s address.
“[Y]ou managed to recount the beauty of Christ’s love that unites and makes us one people, guided by the Good Shepherd,” he said. This challenge was overcome even though we live “in times that are both difficult to navigate and to recount.”
At present, we should never “give in to mediocrity," said the bishop of Rome, the second from the Americas, after his Argentine predecessor. The Church must face the challenges posed by the times. In the same way, communication and journalism do not exist outside of time and history.”
After briefly greeting some of the journalists present at the end of the meeting, he was asked about the possibility of a trip to Turkey for the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which was already in the planning stage for Pope Francis on 24 May.
"We are preparing for it," the pontiff replied, without confirming it or giving any details as to the date.
For its part, the Holy See Press Office today released the calendar of celebrations that the pope will lead in the coming days and which includes the installation of the bishop of Rome in the basilica of St John Lateran on the afternoon of 25 May.
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09/05/2023 19:40
