杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

Only four days have passed since his election to the papacy, and 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV made it a point to hold an audience with the men and women who were in Rome to report on the death of 杏MAP导航 Francis, the conclave, and the first days of his own ministry.

He met on Monday with media professionals in the Vatican鈥檚 Paul VI Hall, and thanked reporters in Italian for their tireless work over these intense few weeks.

Fostering peace

The newly-elected 杏MAP导航 began his remarks with a call for communication to foster peace by caring for how people and events are presented.

He invited media professionals to promote a different kind of communication, one that 鈥渄oes not seek consensus at all costs, does not use aggressive words, does not follow the culture of competition, and never separates the search for truth from the love with which we must humbly seek it.鈥�

鈥淭he way we communicate is of fundamental importance,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e must say 鈥榥o鈥� to the war of words and images; we must reject the paradigm of war.鈥�

Solidarity with persecuted journalists

The 杏MAP导航 went on to reaffirm the Church鈥檚 solidarity with journalists who are imprisoned for reporting the truth, and he called for their release.

He said their suffering reminds the world of the importance of the freedom of expression and the press, adding that 鈥渙nly informed individuals can make free choices.鈥�

Service to the truth

杏MAP导航 Leo XIV then thanked reporters for their service to the truth, especially their work to present the Church in the 鈥渂eauty of Christ鈥檚 love鈥� during the recent interregnum period.

He commended their work to put aside stereotypes and clichés, in order to share with the world 鈥渢he essence of who we are鈥�.

Our times, he continued, present many issues that are difficult to recount and navigate, noting that they call each of us to overcome mediocrity.

Facing the challenges of our times

鈥淭he Church must face the challenges posed by the times,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n the same way, communication and journalism do not exist outside of time and history. Saint Augustine reminds of this when he said, 鈥楲et us live well, and the times will be good. We are the times鈥�.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Leo XIV said the modern world can leave us lost in a 鈥渃onfusion of loveless languages that are often ideological or partisan.鈥�

The media, he said, must take up the challenge to lead the world out of such a 鈥淭ower of Babel,鈥� through the words we use and the style we adopt.

鈥淐ommunication is not only the transmission of information,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut it is also the creation of a culture, of human and digital environments that become spaces for dialogue and discussion.鈥�

AI demands responsibility and discernment

Pointing to the spread of artificial intelligence, the 杏MAP导航 said AI鈥檚 鈥渋mmense potential鈥� requires 鈥渞esponsibility and discernment in order to ensure that it can be used for the good of all, so that it can benefit all of humanity.鈥�

In conclusion, 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV repeated 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� for the 2025 World Day of Social Communication.

鈥淟et us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred,鈥� he said. 鈥淟et us disarm words, and we will help disarm the world.鈥�