Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has warned that information must never turn into propaganda, especially during times of war, and urged journalists to report conflicts by focusing on the human suffering they cause.
Speaking to journalists from the Italian television news broadcast TG2 at the Vatican on Monday, the Pope said the responsibility of the media becomes even more delicate and essential during periods of conflict. He stressed that journalists must carefully verify news so that they do not become a megaphone for powerful interests.
Pope said the media has a duty to show the real face of war by highlighting the suffering experienced by ordinary people. According to him, telling the story of war through the eyes of victims helps people understand its human cost and prevents it from being treated like a video game.
He acknowledged that conveying such complex realities can be difficult within the short time available in television news programmes, but said this challenge must be taken seriously by journalists.
Pope met the TG2 newsroom to mark the 50th anniversary of the news broadcast, which was founded in 1976 by the Italian public television network Rai.
Reflecting on changes in journalism over the past decades, Pope Leo XIV noted the major technological developments in broadcasting, including the transition from analog to digital systems. However, he said technology should never replace human creativity, critical thinking and freedom of thought.
Pope also referred to the growing influence of artificial intelligence in communication and stressed the need to regulate it in a way that keeps human values at the centre. He said society must learn to distinguish between technological tools and the deeper purpose of communication.
During his remarks, the Pope also spoke about the importance of openness in journalism at a time when societies are increasingly divided by polarization and ideological conflicts.
He praised TG2 for maintaining pluralism in its news sources and described secularism in journalism as the ability to avoid ideological bias and remain open to reality. He warned that people are often tempted to listen only to opinions that confirm their own views.
Pope said true communication, freedom and healthy pluralism can exist only when journalists remain open to different perspectives and voices.
He noted that throughout the history of TG2, journalists with diverse cultural backgrounds have worked together, and this diversity has enriched the identity of the news programme.
According to Pope, such dialogue and openness remain essential today, particularly in a world where public debate is often shaped by slogans, ideological rigidity and growing political polarization.