Pope Leo XIV delivered a powerful speech to participants at the MINDS International Association Conference on Thursday, centering on the crucial role of the media. He highlighted what he called a concerning situation in the production and consumption of news and strongly advised the media industry to stand firm against commercial pressures that undermine journalistic integrity.
Speaking from the Clementine Hall in the Vatican, the Pope presented quality journalism as “a public good that we should all protect” and cautioned against what he termed the “degrading practice of so-called clickbait” which he believes corrupts communication. Leo XIV pointed to a key challenge within today's media landscape, explaining that despite living in what he called “the age of communication,” both news outlets and their audiences are facing increasing difficulties. “Those who consume information are also in crisis, often mistaking the false for the true and the authentic for the artificial,” he stated.
According to the Pope, this situation means that “no one today can say, ‘I did not know,'” placing the responsibility on both the creators and the users of information to be more discerning with the media content they engage with. The speech honored the reporters working in dangerous environments, mentioning that many have lost their lives while covering conflicts. “If today we know what is happening in Gaza, Ukraine, and every other land bloodied by bombs, we largely owe it to them,” Leo XIV said.
He also reiterated his appeal for the release of journalists who have been jailed for their work, a request he initially made after his election. “Doing the work of a journalist can never be considered a crime, but it is a right that must be protected,” he declared. The Pope described free access to information as “a pillar that upholds the edifice of our societies” and underscored the necessity of defending it.
Referencing previous statements made by Pope Francis, Leo XIV acknowledged the structural issues news organizations are dealing with. He cited Francis’s January 2025 address which called for “courageous entrepreneurs, courageous information engineers, so that the beauty of communication is not corrupted.” Expanding on this idea, the current Pope noted that news agencies must balance “the economic sustainability of the company with the protection of the right to accurate and balanced information,” principles he admitted are “unfortunately not always shared” within the industry.
He acknowledged the unique pressures faced by agency journalists, who must “write quickly, under pressure, even in very complex and dramatic situations,” describing their role as demanding “competence, courage and a sense of ethics.” Leo XIV also expressed his concern about the growing impact of automated systems in the distribution of information. “Algorithms generate content and data at a scale and speed never seen before. But who controls them?” he asked. He further questioned the role of artificial intelligence, asking “who directs it and for what purposes?”
The Pope cautioned against allowing technology to “replace human beings” and emphasized that “information and algorithms that govern it today are not in the hands of a few.” The speech concluded with a reference to the political theorist Hannah Arendt, quoting her observation from “The Origins of Totalitarianism” that totalitarian rule flourishes among “people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist.” Leo XIV presented journalists as “a barrier against those who, through the ancient art of lying, seek to create divisions in order to rule by dividing” and as “a bulwark of civility against the quicksand of approximation and post-truth.” He advocated for transparency of sources and ownership, accountability, quality, and objectivity as means to “restore the role of citizens as protagonists in the system.” The Pope concluded with a powerful encouragement: “Never sell out your authority!”