Pope Leo XIV expressed his support for imprisoned journalists and reaffirmed the “priceless gift of freedom of speech and the press.”
He addressed an audience of 6,000 journalists gathered in Rome to cover his election as the first American pontiff.
When Leo entered the Vatican hall for his first public address, he was greeted with a standing ovation.
The 69-year-old Augustinian monk, elected in a 24-hour conclave last week, called on journalists to use words to build peace, reject war and give a voice to the voiceless.
Lev expressed support for journalists around the world who have been jailed for their efforts to seek and report the truth. He called for their release to applause from the crowd.
“The Church recognizes in these witnesses – meaning those who report on the war, even at the cost of their lives – the courage of those who defend the dignity, justice and the right of people to information, since only informed people can make free decisions,” he said.
“The suffering of these imprisoned journalists raises a question before the conscience of nations and the international community, calling on all of us to protect the priceless gift of freedom of speech and the press.”
Lev opened the meeting with a few phrases in English, joking that if the crowd was still awake and applauding at the end, it meant more than the ovation he received.
Switching to Italian, he thanked journalists for their work in covering the papal transition and urged them to use words that promote peace.
“Peace begins with each of us: with how we perceive others, listen to them and talk about them,” he noted.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
