Pope Leo Urges News Agencies to Combat Misinformation and “Post-Truths”

In a strong endorsement of press freedom, Pope Leo XIV urged international news agencies on Thursday to resist manipulation and falsehood, describing journalism as a fundamental pillar of democratic societies that requires protection.

Speaking to executives from MINDS International, a consortium that includes The Associated Press and other leading global news agencies, the Pope emphasized the crucial role journalists play in exposing global conflicts and humanitarian crises.

“If today we know what is happening in Gaza, Ukraine and every other land bloodied by bombs, we largely owe it to them,” Leo said. “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.”

The Chicago-born pontiff, who made history as the first American pope, has consistently advocated for press freedom since his election five months ago. In his initial meeting with reporters following his elevation, Leo called for the release of imprisoned journalists and affirmed the “precious gift of free speech and the press.”

His comments come at a particularly challenging time for journalism worldwide, with increasing threats to press freedom in authoritarian regimes, ongoing violence against reporters in conflict zones, and economic pressures threatening the sustainability of news organizations.

During Thursday’s address, the Pope acknowledged these difficulties, noting that news agencies face dual crises: financial challenges threatening their viability and an information landscape where consumers struggle to distinguish fact from fiction.

“I urge you: Never sell out your authority!” Leo implored the assembled media executives.

Drawing from Hannah Arendt’s seminal work “The Origins of Totalitarianism,” the Pope warned about the dangers of a post-truth world. He quoted Arendt’s observation that totalitarian regimes thrive when citizens can no longer differentiate between fact and fiction or truth and falsehood.

The Pope’s stance represents a continuation of the Vatican’s evolving position on media freedom, which has grown more supportive in recent decades after centuries of more complicated relations with the press. His comments align with broader concerns within democratic societies about disinformation, propaganda, and the erosion of trust in institutions.

Leo also addressed emerging challenges posed by artificial intelligence, urging news organizations to maintain their commitment to accuracy and truth despite technological disruptions to traditional journalism.

“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.”

The Pope’s remarks extended beyond theoretical support, as he explicitly called for the release of imprisoned journalists worldwide, emphasizing that journalism should never be criminalized. His statement comes as press freedom organizations report record numbers of journalists detained globally, with countries like China, Turkey, Iran, and Belarus among the worst offenders.

In recent weeks, Leo has deepened his advocacy for journalism, describing it as “not only an act of justice, but a duty of all those who long for a solid and participatory democracy.” In correspondence with a Peruvian journalist facing legal challenges for her investigative work, the Pope characterized press freedom as an “inalienable common good.”

Media experts note that the Pope’s forceful stance on journalism comes at a critical juncture when democratic institutions face unprecedented pressure from populist movements, technological disruption, and economic uncertainty. His intervention adds a powerful moral voice to ongoing debates about the future of news media and information integrity in democratic societies.