Pope Leo XIV affirmed on Thursday that news agencies have a responsibility to defend the principles that protect the right of people to access accurate and balanced information, avoiding degrading practices such as manipulation and clickbait.
In a private meeting at the Vatican with participants of the MINDS Conference, held on October 9 and 10 in Rome, the Holy Father expressed his desire for greater collaboration between producers and consumers of information content to create a “virtuous circle” that benefits society as a whole.
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“Information is a public good that we must all protect,” said León. “For this reason, what is truly productive is the collaboration between citizens and journalists in the service of ethical and civic responsibility.”
“Communication must be freed from the erroneous thinking that corrupts it, from unfair competition and from the degrading practice of the so-called clickbait”he added.
While encouraging people to “value and support professionals and agencies that demonstrate seriousness and true freedom in their work,” the Holy Father affirmed that media professionals must defend the values of transparency, responsibility, quality and objectivity to earn the trust of citizens.
During the meeting, the Holy Father also expressed his great appreciation for countless journalists, particularly reporters on the front lines in conflict zones, who work to ensure that information is not “manipulated for purposes contrary to truth and human dignity.”
“In times like ours, marked by widespread and violent conflict, many have died in the line of duty,” he said. “They are victims of war and of the ideology of war, which seeks to prevent the presence of journalists.”
“We must not forget them! If today we know what is happening in Gaza, Ukraine and all the other territories bloodied by bombs, we owe it largely to them,” he continued.
Addressing concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on the media, the Holy Father stated that people are not destined to live in a world where “truth is no longer distinguishable from fiction” and called for vigilance to ensure that technology and algorithms do not “replace human beings” or remain “in the hands of a few.”
“The world needs free, rigorous and objective information,” he insisted.
“In this context, it is worth remembering Hannah Arendt’s warning that ‘the ideal subject of the totalitarian regime is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced communist, but rather people for whom the distinction between reality and fiction, nor between true and false, no longer exists,’” he said, citing the German-American philosopher’s book. The origins of totalitarianism.
Urging journalists to “never sell their authority,” Leo XIV told those present at the morning audience that their “patient and rigorous work” can be a pillar to restore “civility” in society.
“They can act as a barrier against those who, through the ancient art of lies, seek to create divisions to govern by dividing,” he said.
“The communications sector cannot and should not separate its work from sharing the truth,” he added.
Translated and adapted by the ACI Prensa team. Originally published in CNA.
Kristina Millare
Kristina Millare is a freelance journalist with professional experience in communications in humanitarian aid and development, news journalism, entertainment marketing, politics and government, business and entrepreneurship.