Pope Leo XIV Calls for Release of Imprisoned Journalists
In an interview with some of the 6,000 journalists who travelled to Rome to cover his election as the first American pope, Pope Leo XIV on Monday demanded the freedom of journalists who were imprisoned and reaffirmed the “precious gift of free speech and the press.”
When Leo arrived into the Vatican theatre for his first encounter with members of the public, he was met with a standing ovation. The 69-year-old Augustinian missionary, who was chosen in a 24-hour conclave last week, urged journalists to speak out against violence, use words for peace, and give voice to those who lack it.
Leo joked that it didn’t matter how often he was received with an ovation provided the audience was still awake and cheering at the end of the meeting. Speaking in Italian, he advised the reporters to use words of peace and thanked them for covering the papal transfer.
After his brief speech, in which he discussed the positive power of words, he addressed several of the journalists in the front rows. Then, he shook hands with the audience before leaving the audience hall along the centre aisle. He posed for a few pictures and signed a few autographs.
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