In a spirited gathering barely a week after his election, Pope Leo XIV welcomed the journalists and media professionals who journeyed to Rome to chronicle the passing of Pope Francis, the conclave, and the opening days of his own papacy. In the grandeur of the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, he offered heartfelt thanks—in fluent Italian—for their tireless reporting during an intensely historic period.

Turning his focus to the power of the press, the new pontiff called for a gentle revolution in how stories are told. He urged journalists to rise above sensationalism and competition, to eschew harsh rhetoric, and to never forsake truth for the sake of consensus. “Our choice of words and images carries immense weight,” he reminded them. “We must reject a language shaped for conflict and instead become architects of peace.”

Pope Leo XIV did not limit his address to lofty ideals. He stood in firm solidarity with those reporters who remain behind bars simply for doing their duty. Their plight, he said, shines a stark light on the fragile state of free expression. “Only an informed people can freely choose their destiny,” he insisted, calling for the immediate release of imprisoned journalists.

Gratitude flowed freely as he acknowledged the media’s role in revealing the Church’s heart during the interregnum. By moving past clichés and stereotypes, reporters allowed the world to see the Church’s essence: “the beauty of Christ’s love.” He praised their courage in confronting today’s complex challenges—stories that demand clarity, depth, and, above all, a refusal to settle for mediocrity.

Invoking the wisdom of Saint Augustine, Pope Leo XIV reminded his audience that “we are the times,” and that the Church, like journalism, must engage with history rather than float above it. He warned against a digital age dominated by “ideological and partisan tongues,” a modern Tower of Babel that can only be dismantled by mindful language and a commitment to genuine dialogue.

In perhaps his most forward-looking appeal, the Pope addressed the rapid advance of artificial intelligence. He lauded AI’s promise but stressed the necessity of “responsibility and discernment,” so these powerful tools serve humanity rather than divide it.

Drawing on Pope Francis’s Message for the 2025 World Day of Social Communication, Pope Leo XIV closed with a stirring invocation: “Disarm communication of prejudice, resentment, fanaticism, and hatred. Let us first disarm our words—and in doing so, we will help disarm the world.” In that challenge, he laid down a mission not only for the media but for every citizen of our interconnected age.