Pope Leo XIV has referred to as for the discharge of imprisoned journalists in his first deal with to members of the media on the Vatican.
He expressed solidarity with journalists who had been jailed “for in search of and reporting the reality” and mentioned their struggling “challenges the conscience of countries and the worldwide neighborhood”.
Press freedom should be defended, he mentioned. The media should make sure that the “valuable present” of free speech is protected.
The Committee to Defend Journalists mentioned 361 journalists had been in jail in 2024.
Pope Leo, who was chosen as the brand new chief of the Catholic Church on Thursday, additionally highlighted the position journalists can play in bringing consideration to injustice and poverty on this planet.
He urged the media to deal with reporting the reality as a substitute of collaborating in partisan divisions, and to not give area to “fanaticism and hatred.”
Talking within the Vatican’s Paul VI viewers corridor, he mentioned “the best way we talk is of basic significance: we should say ‘no’ to the disagreement and pictures, we should reject the paradigm of warfare.”
“We don’t want loud, forceful communication,” he mentioned, “however fairly communication that’s able to listening and of gathering the voices of the weak who haven’t any voice.”
The brand new pope additionally raised considerations about synthetic intelligence, telling the assembled media they need to use AI with “duty and discernment.”
Reporters ought to make sure that AI can be utilized for the “good thing about all of humanity,” he mentioned.
Leo XIV spoke primarily in Italian, however opened with a quip in English in regards to the big spherical of applause he obtained when he walked into the room.
“Thanks for this glorious reception,” he mentioned.
“They are saying that once they clap at first, it would not matter a lot. When you’re nonetheless awake on the finish and nonetheless wish to applaud, thanks very a lot.”
