Pope Leo XIV Expresses Church's Solidarity with Imprisoned Journalists During Media Audience

During the meeting with 5,000 press representatives in the Vatican's Paul VI Audience Hall, Pope Leo XIV appealed to journalists to act as "peacemakers." They should "seek the truth with love" and reject the "war of words and images." "When we disarm words, we contribute to the disarmament of the earth," said Pope Leo XIV at the media audience.

Pope Leo XIV calls for communication "without aggressive words"

"A disarmed and disarming communication allows us to share a different view of the world and to act in a way that corresponds to our human dignity," explained Leo XIV. Addressing the media people, he added: "You are at the forefront when it comes to reporting on conflicts and hopes for peace, on injustice and poverty, and on the silent work of so many for a better world. Therefore, I ask you to consciously and courageously choose the path of peace communication," explained the Pope, who was elected last Thursday.

Referring to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, Robert Francis Prevost urged reporters to "commit to a different kind of communication that does not seek approval at any cost, does not dress in aggressive words, does not represent the model of competition, and never separates the search for truth from the love with which we must humbly seek it." "Peace begins with each of us: with the way we look at others, listen to others, speak about others; and in this sense, the way we communicate is fundamental," explained Leo XIV.

The Holy Father, who hails from the USA, also addressed the topic of Artificial Intelligence. "In view of the immense potential of Artificial Intelligence, we must have responsibility and discernment to direct these means towards the good of all, so that they can benefit humanity. And this responsibility concerns everyone, depending on age and social role," added the Pope.

Pope Leo XIV calls for the release of imprisoned journalists

The Pope expressed the Church's solidarity with those journalists who are "imprisoned for their pursuit of truth and their reporting," and called for their release. "The Church recognizes in these witnesses the courage of those who defend the dignity, justice, and the right of peoples to information, because only informed peoples can make free decisions," emphasized the Pope. "The suffering of these imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations and the international community and calls on all of us to protect the precious good of freedom of opinion and press," said the Pope. After his speech, he blessed the journalists present and shook hands with many of them.

Pope Leo XIV "working" on trip to Turkey

Many journalists are now speculating about the first papal trip. Reporters asked Leo XIV about his possible trip to Turkey on May 26. The occasion would be the celebrations for the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (Nicea), today's Iznik near Istanbul. There, in 325, the bishops of the church formulated a creed that is still valid today, affirming the belief in the Trinity, that is, the unity of essence of God the Father, the God the Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. "We are working on it," the Pope replied to a question about the trip. Pope Francis had repeatedly personally expressed in the past that he definitely wanted to travel to Nicaea for the anniversary celebrations, where the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will also be present. However, the visit was not officially confirmed by the Vatican before Francis' hospitalization in February. The former pope ultimately passed away on Easter Monday. The Pope was also asked by journalists if he planned a trip to the US homeland. Leo XIV replied: "Not now."

Pope Leo XIV signed baseball and received scarf

There were some surprises at the meeting with journalists. A journalist had a baseball signed by the Pope. A reporter, who knows the new Pope's passion for tennis, urged Leo XIV to organize a charity tennis match for the papal missions. "Just don't bring Jannik Sinner!" the Pope replied, alluding to the South Tyrolean tennis star. Paola Ugaz, a Peruvian journalist, gave the Pope a wool scarf from the Andes. Prevost had spent a long time in Peru. In the hall, Pope Leo XIV paused for a moment to ask the assistants if he should give the participants rosaries as a memento of the meeting. Upon receiving a negative response, the Pope jokingly replied: "I'm still learning."

Mass for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV on Sunday

Meanwhile, the new Pope is resuming the Holy Year audiences, which were suspended in February after Francis' illness. On Wednesday, Leo XIV will receive the Holy Year pilgrims of the Catholic Eastern Churches in the Vatican, as the responsible Jubilee authority announced on Monday. The largest Catholic pilgrimage event in Rome took place for months without a church leader because Francis was too ill. After the election of Leo XIV last Thursday, the pilgrim receptions are now being resumed. A solemn mass for the inauguration of the new Pope is planned for next Sunday (May 18). The state delegation from Austria is led by Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP). The domestic Catholic Church is represented, among others, by the chairman of the Bishops' Conference, Salzburg's Archbishop Franz Lackner, and the Bishop of Graz, Wilhelm Krautwaschl.

(APA/Red)

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