Pope tells journalists: "Disarm words to help disarm the world"

Pope Leo XIV met with hundreds of media professionals gathered in Rome for the Conclave, urging them to embrace a form of communication that fosters peace, dignity, and truth in a fractured world.

Speaking in the Paul VI Audience Hall on May 12 morning, the Holy Father thanked journalists for their tireless coverage of recent Church events, including the funeral of Pope Francis and the subsequent papal election. “You have captured the essence of who we are and conveyed it to the world,” he said.

Quoting Jesus' words from the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” the Pope encouraged media workers to adopt a style of journalism that resists aggression, avoids ideological manipulation, and seeks truth in love. “Say ‘no’ to the war of words and images. Reject the paradigm of war,” he emphasized.

Leo XIV also highlighted the Church’s solidarity with journalists imprisoned for reporting the truth, calling for their release. 

“Only informed individuals can make free choices,” he said, praising the courage of those who risk their lives in conflict zones to uphold justice and human dignity.

The pope expressed concern over the growing confusion in public discourse, likening it to a modern-day “Tower of Babel.” 

He challenged communicators to go beyond stereotypes and to foster environments of authentic dialogue—especially in the age of artificial intelligence. “This technology must serve the good of all humanity,” he stressed.

In a heartfelt conclusion, Leo echoed a call from Pope Francis' previous message on World Communications Day: 

“Let us disarm communication of prejudice, fanaticism, and hatred... Let us disarm words, and we will help disarm the world.”

The encounter marks Leo XIV’s first formal address to the media since his election, setting a clear tone for his pontificate—one of listening, peacebuilding, and moral responsibility in the age of global and digital communication.