Pope Leo XIV has referred to as for an finish to a polarising “war of words” as he hosted an viewers with worldwide media for the primary time.
Talking in Vatican Metropolis to 1000’s of members of the media, he mentioned “we are living in times that are both difficult to navigate and to recount” – including they current a “challenge for all of us”, however it’s one “we should not run away from”.
“I repeat to you today the invitation made by Pope Francis in his message for this year’s World Day of Social Communications: let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred.
“Allow us to free it from aggression,” he said.
“Disarmed and disarming communication permits us to share a unique view of the world and to behave in a way in step with our human dignity,” he added.
Leo opened the assembly with a couple of phrases in English, earlier than turning to Italian and thanking journalists for protecting the conclave and his historic election.
Picture:
Pope Leo arrives to carry an viewers with representatives of the media.
Pic: Reuters
Urging them to make use of phrases of peace, he mentioned: “Peace begins with each one of us: in the way we look at others, listen to others and speak about others.
“On this sense, the best way we talk is of elementary significance: we should say ‘no’ to the confrontation and pictures, we should reject the paradigm of struggle.”
The 69-year-old pontiff made historical past when he was elected as the primary US pope – and the 267th pontiff – final Thursday.
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1:17
‘We used to tease him that he’d be pope’
Throughout his viewers on Monday, the Pope, who spent a few years in Peru as a missionary, expressed solidarity with imprisoned journalists and affirmed the “precious gift of free speech and the press”.
Drawing applause from the group, he requested for his or her launch.
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“The church recognises in these witnesses – I am thinking of those who report on war even at the cost of their lives – the courage of those who defend dignity, justice and the right of people to be informed, because only informed individuals can make free choices,” he mentioned.
“The suffering of these imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations and the international community, calling on all of us to safeguard the precious gift of free speech and of the press.”
Leo additionally addressed synthetic intelligence, saying it had for use with “responsibility and discernment”.
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2:23
Pope’s first Sunday tackle
It comes after his first Sunday tackle since his election as pontiff, the place Pope Leo appealed to crowds in St Peter’s Sq. for “no more war”.
Recalling the tip of the Second World Conflict, Leo quoted his predecessor, Francis, as he denounced the variety of ongoing conflicts as “a third world in pieces”.
The Pope additionally referred to as for an “authentic and lasting peace” in Ukraine and a ceasefire in Gaza and the discharge of all Israeli hostages.
