Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has called on journalists and media organizations to uphold their responsibility as builders of dialogue, warning against the dangers of extreme and misleading polarization that distorts reality and undermines human dignity.
The Pope made these remarks in a message marking the 30th anniversary of the Italian daily Il Foglio. Addressed to the newspaper’s editor, Claudio Cerasa, the letter was dated January 23 and made public on Saturday. In it, Pope Leo reflected on the vital role of a free and pluralistic press at a time of rapid social and cultural change.
“The free press, and more generally all media, have this extraordinary task: to educate by informing,” the Pope wrote, stressing that responsible journalism contributes directly to the creation of a more just and peaceful world. He noted that a diversity of voices in the information space, such as that fostered by Il Foglio over the past three decades, serves as a safeguard for freedom itself.
Without such plurality, Pope Leo warned, freedom of thought is weakened, leading to the denial of the dignity of every individual and their fundamental right to think freely. He cautioned that modern public discourse is increasingly threatened by forms of polarization that oversimplify complex realities, reducing culture and religion to superficial labels and transforming thought into a mechanical exercise rather than a genuine search for truth.
The Pope specifically urged journalists to resist narratives that fuel division and extremism, describing such approaches as distortions that turn reality into “a parody of itself.” He emphasised that while facts must be reported with objectivity and integrity, opinions should always be expressed in a spirit of openness and dialogue.
Concluding his message, Pope Leo XIV expressed hope that Il Foglio would continue its mission with a commitment to encounter rather than confrontation. He encouraged the newspaper and the wider media community to defend “the beauty of our lives” by nurturing understanding, respect, and constructive engagement in public debate.