‘Never Sell Out!’ Pope Leo Praises the Press and Urges It to Fight Back Against ‘Ancient Art of Lying’
(Andrew Medichini/AP photo)
Pope Leo XIV has offered praise to the media industry on Thursday, urging journalists around the world to stand against the ‘ancient art of lying” and those who “create divisions.”
In a speech to MINDS International, a group consisting of top news agencies around the world, the first American-born pontiff went to bat for reporters in various war zones who “work to ensure that information is not manipulated for ends that are contrary to truth and human dignity.”
“If today we know what is happening in Gaza, Ukraine and every other land bloodied by bombs, we largely owe it to them,” Pope Leo said, according to the Associated Press. “These extraordinary eyewitness accounts are the culmination of the daily efforts of countless people who work to ensure that information is not manipulated for ends that are contrary to truth and human dignity.”
He also urged reporters to stand against anyone whose only goal is to divide.
“With your patient and rigorous work, you can act as a barrier against those who, through the ancient art of lying, seek to create divisions in order to rule by dividing,” he said. “You can also be a bulwark of civility against the quicksand of approximation and post-truth.”
Earlier this week, Pope Leo refused to answer a reporter’s question about President Donald Trump’s move to send federal troops to the Holy Father’s hometown of Chicago.
“I prefer not to comment at this time about choices made — political choices — within the United States,” he said.
