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Pope Leo has called for an end to a polarising “war of words” as he hosted an audience with international media for the first time.
Speaking in Vatican City to thousands of members of the media, he said “we are living in times that are both difficult to navigate and to recount” – adding they present a “challenge for all of us”, but it is one “we should not run away from”.
The new pontiff said he was repeating an “invitation” made by his predecessor Pope Francis by saying: “Let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred.”
“Let us free it from aggression,” he added.
“Disarmed and disarming communication allows us to share a different view of the world and to act in a manner consistent with our human dignity.”
Leo – the first pope from the US – opened the meeting with a few words in English, before turning to Italian and thanking journalists for covering the conclave and his historic election.
Urging them to use words of peace, he said: “Peace begins with each one of us: in 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.”
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The 69-year-old pontiff made history when he was elected as the first US pope last Thursday following a two-day conclave.
‘We used to tease him that he’d be pope’
During his audience on Monday, the Pope – who spent many years in Peru as a missionary – expressed solidarity with imprisoned journalists and affirmed the “precious gift of free speech and the press”. Drawing applause from the crowd, he asked for their release.
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Commenting on those “who report on war even at the cost of their lives”, the Pope praised “the courage of those who defend dignity, justice and the right of people to be informed, because only informed individuals can make free choices”.
“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 added.
Leo also addressed artificial intelligence, saying it had to be used with “responsibility and discernment”.
It comes after his first Sunday address since his election as pontiff, where he appealed to crowds in St Peter’s Square for “no more war”.
Pope’s first Sunday address
Quoting his predecessor Francis, he denounced the number of ongoing conflicts as “a third world in pieces”.
The Pope also called for an “authentic and lasting peace” in Ukraine and a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all Israeli hostages.
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