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Otago Daily Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Pope tells media to shun divisions
Pope Leo XIV, in his first address to the media, has urged journalists to focus on reporting the truth instead of engaging in partisan debates and called for the release of reporters jailed for doing their jobs. "The way we communicate is of fundamental importance: we must say 'no' to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war," Leo told thousands of journalists who covered his election and the death of his predecessor, Pope Francis, last month. He also spoke up for jailed journalists who, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, numbered 361 at the end of last year. "The suffering of these imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations and the international community, calling on all of us to safeguard the precious gift of free speech and of the press," the pontiff said. Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, is the first pope born in the United States. He was elected as Pope on May 8 and is a relatively unknown figure on the global stage, spending most of his career as a missionary in Peru. He 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." "Let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred, let us free it from aggression." Monday's meeting was Leo's first audience with a large group of people at the Vatican. Coming into the Vatican's large audience hall, he was greeted with applause from reporters. The Pope spoke mainly in Italian, but opened with a joke in English about the clapping. "Thank you for this wonderful reception," said Leo. "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." 'Don't bring Sinner' After his address, Leo walked off the stage to greet journalists in the audience and engaged in banter with a few of them. The Pope indicated he would continue with Francis' plan to take a trip to Turkey this year to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of an early Church council, held in Nicaea, now the modern day town of Iznik. But when an American reporter asked the Pope, born in Chicago, if he would be returning for a visit home soon, Leo responded: "I don't think so." Leo showed signs that he was not yet used to the rhythms and practices of being Pope. At one point, he asked an aide if it was he or an usher who was supposed to give rosary beads to people after greeting them. People meeting the pope are often given a small set of rosary beads blessed by the pontiff, usually distributed by a papal attendant. One reporter also asked the Pope, who is a tennis player, if he would like to play against Andre Agassi. Leo responded, "just don't bring Sinner," making a Catholic pun about the last name of Italian champion Jannik Sinner.
Observer
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Pope Leo tells media to shun divisions, urges release of jailed reporters
VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV, in his first address to the media, urged journalists on Monday to focus on reporting the truth instead of engaging in partisan debates and called for the release of reporters jailed for doing their jobs. "The way we communicate is of fundamental importance: we must say 'no' to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war," Leo told thousands of journalists who covered his election and the death of his predecessor, Pope Francis. He also spoke up for jailed journalists who, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, numbered 361 at the end of last year. "The suffering of these imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations and the international community, calling on all of us to safeguard the precious gift of free speech and of the press," said the pope. Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, is the first pope born in the US. He was elected as the new Catholic pontiff on May 8 and is a relatively unknown figure on the global stage, spending most of his career as a missionary in Peru. 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." "Let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred, let us free it from aggression," said the pope. Monday's meeting was Leo's first audience with a large group of people at the Vatican. Coming into the Vatican's large audience hall, he was greeted with applause from reporters. The pope spoke mainly in Italian, but opened with a joke in English about the clapping. "Thank you for this wonderful reception," said Leo. "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." After his address, Leo walked off the stage to greet journalists in the audience, and engaged in banter with a few of them. The pope indicated he would continue with Francis' plan to take a trip to Türkiye this year to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of an early Church council, held in Nicaea, now the modern day town of Iznik. But when an American reporter asked the pope, born in Chicago, if he would be returning for a visit home soon, Leo responded: "I don't think so." Leo showed signs that he was not yet used to the rhythms and practices of being pope. At one point, he asked an aide if it was he or an usher who was supposed to give rosary beads to people after greeting them. People meeting the pope are often given a small set of rosary beads blessed by the pontiff, usually distributed by a papal attendant. One reporter also asked the pope, who is a tennis player, if he would like to play against Andre Agassi. Leo responded, "just don't bring Sinner," making a Catholic pun about the last name of Italian champion Jannik Sinner. — Reuters
Daily Maverick
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Pope rejects ‘war of words', urges release of jailed reporters
Pope Leo XIV, in his first address to the media, spoke out against partisan bickering and called for the release of imprisoned journalists. 'The way we communicate is of fundamental importance: we must say 'no' to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war,' Leo told thousands of journalists who covered his election and the death of his predecessor. He also spoke up for jailed journalists who, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, numbered 361 at the end of last year. 'The suffering of these imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations and the international community, calling on all of us to safeguard the precious gift of free speech and of the press,' he said. Leo, the first pope from the U.S., addressed the journalists in the Vatican's large audience hall in Italian but started in English in jocular fashion. 'Good morning. Thank you for this wonderful reception. 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,' he said. The pontiff also spoke about artificial intelligence, saying it should be used with responsibility and discernment.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pope calls for journalists to be released from prison
Pope Leo XIV has called for the release of imprisoned journalists in his first address to members of the media at the Vatican. He expressed solidarity with journalists who were jailed "for seeking and reporting the truth" and said their suffering "challenges the conscience of nations and the international community". Press freedom must be defended, he said. The media must ensure that the "precious gift" of free speech is protected. The Committee to Protect Journalists said 361 journalists were in jail in 2024. Pope Leo, who was chosen as the new leader of the Catholic Church on Thursday, also highlighted the role journalists can play in bringing attention to injustice and poverty in the world. He urged the media to focus on reporting the truth instead of taking part in partisan divisions, and not to give space to "fanaticism and hatred." Speaking in the Vatican's Paul VI audience hall, he said "the way we communicate is of fundamental importance: we must say 'no' to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war." "We do not need loud, forceful communication," he said, "but rather communication that is capable of listening and of gathering the voices of the weak who have no voice." The new pope also raised concerns about artificial intelligence, telling the assembled media they should use AI with "responsibility and discernment." Reporters should ensure that AI can be used for the "benefit of all of humanity," he said. Leo XIV spoke mainly in Italian, but opened with a quip in English about the huge round of applause he received when he walked into the room. "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." 'Peace be with you all,' Pope Leo XIV says in first speech Who is Robert Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIV?
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Pope Leo calls for journalists to be released from prison
Pope Leo XIV has called for the release of imprisoned journalists in his first address to members of the media at the Vatican. He expressed solidarity with journalists who were jailed "for seeking and reporting the truth" and said their suffering "challenges the conscience of nations and the international community". Press freedom must be defended, he said. The media must ensure that the "precious gift" of free speech is protected. The Committee to Protect Journalists said 361 journalists were in jail in 2024. Pope Leo, who was chosen as the new leader of the Catholic Church on Thursday, also highlighted the role journalists can play in bringing attention to injustice and poverty in the world. He urged the media to focus on reporting the truth instead of taking part in partisan divisions, and not to give space to "fanaticism and hatred."Speaking in the Vatican's Paul VI audience hall, he said "the way we communicate is of fundamental importance: we must say 'no' to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war.""We do not need loud, forceful communication," he said, "but rather communication that is capable of listening and of gathering the voices of the weak who have no voice."The new pope also raised concerns about artificial intelligence, telling the assembled media they should use AI with "responsibility and discernment."Reporters should ensure that AI can be used for the "benefit of all of humanity," he said. Leo XIV spoke mainly in Italian, but opened with a quip in English about the huge round of applause he received when he walked into the room. "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."
