We must say no to the war of words

Below is the full speech by Pope Leo XIV on freedom of expression, delivered during the meeting with media representatives gathered in Rome to cover the recent conclave.

Good morning, and thank you very much for this wonderful welcome. They say that when you applaud at the beginning, it doesn't mean much. But if you're still awake at the end and still want to applaud, I'd really appreciate it.

Brothers and sisters:

I welcome you, representatives of the media from around the world. I thank you for the work you have done and are doing in this time, which for the Church is essentially a time of grace.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus proclaimed: “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Mt 5:9). This is a beatitude that challenges us all and touches us closely, calling each of us to commit to a different kind of communication, one that does not seek consensus at any cost, does not cloak itself in aggressive words, does not assume the model of competition, and never separates the search for truth from the love with which we humbly seek it. Peace begins with each of us, with the way we look at others, listen to others, and speak about others. In this sense, 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.

Allow me, then, to reiterate today the Church's solidarity with the journalists imprisoned for having attempted to tell the truth, and through these words also to call for their release. The Church recognizes in these witnesses—I am thinking of those who report on the war even at the cost of their lives—the courage of those who defend dignity, justice, and the right of peoples to be informed, because only informed peoples can make decisions freely. The suffering of these detained journalists challenges the conscience of nations and of the international community, calling upon us all to safeguard the precious good of freedom of expression and of the press.

Thank you, dear friends, for your service to the truth. You have been in Rome these past few weeks to report on the Church, her diversity and, with it, her unity. You accompanied the rites of Holy Week, then conveyed your sorrow for the death of Pope Francis, which occurred in the light of Easter. That same Easter faith has drawn us into the spirit of the Conclave, which has seen you particularly committed during tiring days, and, on this occasion too, you have succeeded in communicating the beauty of Christ's love that unites us all and makes us one people, guided by the Good Shepherd.

We live in difficult times to navigate and describe, which represent a challenge for all of us, from which we must not shy away. On the contrary, they ask each of us, in our various responsibilities and services, never to yield to mediocrity. The Church must accept the challenge of time, and likewise, communication and journalism cannot exist outside of time and history. As Saint Augustine reminds us, who said: “Let us live well, and the times will be good. We are the times” (Sermon 80,8).

Thank you for all you have done to abandon the stereotypes and commonplaces through which we often interpret Christian life and the life of the Church itself. Thank you, for having managed to perceive the essence of who we are and convey it to the entire world through the various media.

Today, one of the most important challenges is to promote a communication capable of helping us escape the "Tower of Babel" in which we sometimes find ourselves, the confusion of loveless, often ideological, and factional languages. Therefore, your service, through the words you use and the style you adopt, is important. Communication, in fact, is not only the transmission of information, but also the creation of a culture, of human and digital environments that are spaces for dialogue and contrast. And, considering technological evolution, this mission becomes even more necessary. I am thinking, in particular, of artificial intelligence, with its immense potential, which, however, requires responsibility and discernment to orient its tools toward the good of all, so that they can produce benefits for humanity. And this responsibility concerns us all, according to our age and social roles.

Dear friends, over time we will learn to know each other better. We have lived —we can say together—truly special days. We have shared them through various media: television, radio, the web, and social networks. I would like each of us to be able to say that they have revealed to us a little of the mystery of our humanity, and that they have left us with a desire for love and peace. Therefore, today I repeat to you the invitation that Pope Francis made in his last message for World Communications Day. Let us disarm communication of all prejudice, resentment, fanaticism, and hatred; let us purify it of aggression. Strident, forceful communication is of no use, but rather a communication capable of listening, of hearing the voices of the weak who have no voice. Let us disarm words and we will contribute to disarming the earth. Disarming and disarming communication allows us to share a different view of the world and act in a manner consistent with our human dignity.

You are on the front lines of describing conflicts and hopes for peace , situations of injustice and poverty, as well as the silent work of many for a better world. Therefore, I ask you to wisely and courageously choose the path of communication for peace.

Thank you all. God bless .

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