Pope Leo XIV calls for the release of imprisoned journalists

Pope Leo XIV has called for the release of journalists "imprisoned for telling the truth," defended freedom of expression and of the press, and said "no to the war of words and images."

This was his demand this Monday, May 12, in a no-questions audience with some 3,000 journalists from around the world—according to Vatican News—who have traveled to Rome in recent days to cover the Conclave, which took place in the Paul VI Hall.

"Today, I reiterate the Church's solidarity with journalists imprisoned for seeking and telling the truth. With these words, I also call for the release of these imprisoned journalists," he demanded, drawing applause from those in attendance.

In this regard, he added that "only informed people can make free decisions" and warned that "the suffering" of these imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations and the international community, urging everyone to "safeguard the precious value of freedom of expression and of the press." "Thank you for your service to the truth," he said.

He also called for " disarming and disarming communication," and echoing Pope Francis's invitation in his latest message for World Communications Day 2025, Leo XIV called for " disarming communication of all prejudice, resentment, fanaticism, and hatred ." "Let us disarm words, and we will help disarm the Earth," he stressed.

He stated that "peace begins with each individual," and therefore called for "a different form of communication, one that doesn't seek consensus at all costs, that doesn't disguise itself with aggressive language," that doesn't follow the model of "competition."

He also indicated that these are "difficult times," warning of the challenge of "never falling into mediocrity" and moving away from "stereotypes and clichés," as well as ideological or biased information.

"Today, one of the most important challenges is to promote communication capable of helping us escape the 'Tower of Babel' in which we sometimes find ourselves, the confusion of loveless, often ideological, or biased languages," he added.

Communication, he explained, "is not just the transmission of information, but the creation of a culture, of human and digital environments that become spaces for dialogue and confrontation."

Along these lines, Leo XIV warned of the challenge posed by artificial intelligence, which has "immense potential" but, at the same time, demands "responsibility and discernment" so that it "benefits humanity."

After his speech, which he delivered in Italian—except for a few improvised opening remarks in English—the Pope shook the hands of many journalists and blessed some children, amid applause and shouts of "Long live the Pope."