Pope Leo XIV dishes advice to journalists, mentions AI challenge in first news conference
Pope Leo XIV wrapped up his first meeting with Vatican-accredited journalists Monday morning.
More than 1,000 members of the media were assembled to hear his remarks, according to the New York Times. Some of them even took their children.
The gathering took place in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, Vatican Media reported. There, the pontiff "thanked reporters in Italian for their tireless work over these intense few weeks."
"Let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred," the pope told the crowd of reporters. "Let us disarm words, and we will help disarm the world."
How The Pope Gets Paid And A Look Into The Vatican's Finances
The 69-year-old called for the release of imprisoned journalists and affirmed the "precious gift of free speech and the press," the Associated Press reported.
Read On The Fox News App
He expressed solidarity with journalists around the world who have been jailed for trying to seek and report the truth. Drawing applause from the crowd, he asked for their release.
Pope Leo Delivers First 'Regina Caeli' Prayers From St. Peter's Balcony
"The church recognizes in these witnesses — I am thinking of those who report on war even at the cost of their lives — the courage of those who defend dignity, justice and the right of people to be informed, because only informed individuals can make free choices," he said.
The pontiff also told the journalists they must act responsibly in using artificial intelligence in their work, asking them to "ensure that it can be used for the good of all, so that it can benefit all of humanity."
The pope spoke mainly in Italian, but opened with a joke in English about the standing ovation he received.
"Thank you for this wonderful reception," he said. "They say that when they clap at the beginning, it doesn't matter much. If you're still awake at the end and still want to applaud, thank you very much."
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. Original article source: Pope Leo XIV dishes advice to journalists, mentions AI challenge in first news conference
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Council tax bills set to rise at fastest rate for two decades, economist warns
Council tax bills are set to rise at their fastest rate for two decades in the wake of Rachel Reeves' spending review, according to the head of the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Paul Johnson said that local government in England did 'perhaps a little bit better than it might have expected' out of the Chancellor's statement on Wednesday, but the 'sting in the tail' is the assumption that 'council tax bills will rise by 5% a year' as part of the funding. The core spending power of councils is set to increase by 2.6% a year from next year, and 'if English councils do choose 5% increases – and most almost certainly will – council tax bills look set to rise at their fastest rate over any parliament since 2001-05', Mr Johnson said on Thursday. On Wednesday, Ms Reeves said that ministers will not be 'going above' the 5% annual increases in council tax. She told ITV: 'The previous government increased council tax by 5% a year, and we have stuck to that. We won't be going above that. 'That is the council tax policy that we inherited from the previous government, and that we will be continuing.' The biggest winner from Wednesday's statement was the NHS, which will see its budget rise by £29 billion per year in real terms. Ruth Curtice, the chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, has said that Britain is turning into a 'National Health State'. Overnight, the think tank said Ms Reeves' announcements had followed a recent trend that saw increases for the NHS come at the expense of other public services. Ms Curtice said: 'Health accounted for 90% of the extra public service spending, continuing a trend that is seeing the British state morph into a National Health State, with half of public service spending set to be on health by the end of the decade.' Defence was another of Wednesday's winners, Ms Curtice said, receiving a significant increase in capital spending while other departments saw an overall £3.6 billion real-terms cut in investment. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) made similar arguments about 'substantial' investment in the NHS and defence coming at the expense of other departments, although Mr Johnson warned on Wednesday the money may not be enough. In his snap reaction to the review, Mr Johnson said: 'Aiming to get back to meeting the NHS 18-week target for hospital waiting times within this Parliament is enormously ambitious – an NHS funding settlement below the long-run average might not measure up. 'And on defence, it's entirely possible that an increase in the Nato spending target will mean that maintaining defence spending at 2.6% of GDP no longer cuts the mustard.' Ms Curtice added that low and middle-income families had also done well out of the spending review 'after two rounds of painful tax rises and welfare cuts', with the poorest fifth of families benefiting from an average of £1,700 in extra spending on schools, hospitals and the police. She warned that, without economic growth, another round of tax rises was likely to come in the autumn as the Chancellor seeks to balance the books. She said: 'The extra money in this spending review has already been accounted for in the last forecast. 'But a weaker economic outlook and the unfunded changes to winter fuel payments mean the Chancellor will likely need to look again at tax rises in the autumn.' Speaking after delivering her spending review, Ms Reeves insisted she would not have to raise taxes to cover her spending review. She told GB News: 'Every penny of this is funded through the tax increases and the changes to the fiscal rules that we set out last autumn.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
I'm a Palm Beach County pastor. Here's what I learned by welcoming refugees.
These words may confuse you: immigrants, migrants, illegal aliens, foreigners, newcomers. But here is a word I hope you know well: refugees. A refugee is seeking 'refuge' because he or she is fleeing political or religious persecution, and is forced to leave home and relocate to a shelter. The U.S. Refugees Admissions Program is on pause by President Donald Trump, who wants to determine if it's in the interest of our country. Trump closed the door on many already approved to come here, including former Afghan allies who once aided the United States, and refugee family members waiting to be reunited. Faith-based U.S. resettlement organizations are no longer able to provide housing, job placement or language courses. Shutting down congressionally mandated programs harms thousands of vulnerable refugee families that we have pledged to support. Among the agencies affected are Church World Services, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services and Catholic Relief. Under this order by President Trump the following refugees would not have been allowed to enter our country: Henry Kissinger, Madeline Albright, Albert Einstein, Gloria Estefan, Sigmund Freud, Marlene Dietrich, Anne Frank, Billy Wilder and Elie Wiesel. Refugees usually remain in United Nations-sponsored camps for 10-15 years. They are approved (vetted) on many different security levels, have thorough physical check-ups, take job training courses, English language classes and classes on adjusting on a new life elsewhere. Letters: Wake up, Floridians: Our politicians don't respect or represent us They must all have 'a sponsor' who will meet them at the airport, assist in finding a job, and secure housing. No refugee can come to the U.S. without a sponsor who agrees to walk beside them until they are independent, and able to care for themselves. Government-approved resettlement agencies pair a sponsor with a corresponding family. A sponsor receives no compensation, but funds are available by the sponsoring agency if there is an emergency. Opinion: Trump's mass deportations hurt Floridians like these. It's a shame to US values. Refugees agree to begin repaying the U.S. government for transportation costs within two years of their arrival in the U.S. As a Lutheran pastor, I led our congregation to welcome more than 200 refugees to Palm Beach County. All were successful and have given back more than they received. For more information about the history of refugees, I recommend an outstanding book, "They Are Us," available through Fortress Press. This book reminds us that the only natives here are the American Native Indians, and that we all came from beyond our borders and have a duty to be hospitable and welcoming to all who desire to make our country even greater. Rev. John Frerking, 35 year senior pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in North Palm Beach. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: What is a refugee? I'm a pastor and I'll tell you | Opinion
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Russia attempts to capture Yunakivka and Pysarivka in Sumy Oblast
Russian troops have intensified their offensive in the north-east of Sumy Oblast and are trying to capture the border villages of Yunakivka and Pysarivka. Source: Ukrainska Pravda article: Are you advancing on Tyotkino? We're tripping over the same mistake: What's happening in Sumy as Russian forces push forward (English translation coming soon) Details: The article by Ukrainska Pravda states that the Russians are currently striving to pressure the front line in Sumy Oblast as much as possible in order to draw more of Ukraine's reserve defence forces there. Russia's main attacks are now directed towards two settlements: Pysarivka and Yunakivka. The capture of Pysarivka will allow the Russian military to cut access to the main road leading from Sumy to the border, and if Yunakivka is occupied, the Russians will gain control of a key village on the border. Ukrainian border guards report that on 7-8 June, Russian troops were seen entering the centre of the village on motorcycles. On 10 June, despite a delay in updating its interactive map of hostilities, the Ukrainian group of military analysts DeepState marked about a third of Yunakivka as a "grey zone". Pysarivka is located approximately 5 km away. The centre of the village of Yunakivka in March 2025. The photo shows the ancient Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God, whose restoration was halted due to the war. Photo: Olha Kyrylenko, UP Ukrainska Pravda reports that Russian forces in the currently occupied part of Sumy Oblast mostly operate in small assault groups without heavy equipment, with mortars being the heaviest weapon observed. Russian soldiers spend much of their time in local residents' homes, using civilian houses as shelters. Sources told Ukrainska Pravda that no drone launch sites have been identified in the area so far. Meanwhile, like the Ukrainian forces, the Russians have begun to use heavy night bombers and robotic ground systems to deliver ammunition and food and transport mortars. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
