Pope Leo XIV has urged journalists to highlight the human suffering of war rather than turning conflicts into propaganda or spectacle, warning media to verify facts and focus on victims.
Sharjah News – Source: AsiaOne
Pope Leo XIV has urged journalists around the world to highlight the human cost of war and avoid turning news coverage into propaganda that glorifies conflict.
Speaking during a meeting with broadcasters from Italy’s TG2 at the Vatican on Monday, the pontiff called on media professionals to portray wars through victims’ experiences rather than presenting them as a spectacle.
“Show the face of war and tell it through the eyes of the victims, so as not to turn it into a video game,” Pope Leo said.
Warning against propaganda in wartime reporting
The pope emphasized that journalism carries a special responsibility during conflicts, warning reporters to verify facts carefully and avoid amplifying political narratives.
“In the dramatic circumstances of war, such as those we are experiencing, information must guard against the risk of turning into propaganda,” he said.
He stressed that journalists’ role is to pursue truth and human reality rather than serve as instruments of powerful interests.
“Journalists must work in verifying the news so as not to become a megaphone of power,” he added.
Concern over escalating global conflicts
Although Pope Leo did not refer to a specific conflict in his remarks, the comments come amid rising tensions linked to the ongoing confrontation involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
The pontiff has repeatedly expressed alarm over the escalating violence. On Sunday, he appealed for an immediate ceasefire, describing the situation as “atrocious” and urging renewed diplomatic dialogue.
Criticism of war imagery in media
Church leaders have also raised concerns about how war is sometimes portrayed online and in the media. Blaise Cupich recently criticized a social media video that combined footage from the Iran conflict with scenes resembling video games and action movies.
Cupich described the clip as “sickening,” warning that such portrayals risk trivializing the suffering of civilians caught in war.
Pope Leo, the first American pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church, has repeatedly called for diplomacy and dialogue as the only path toward lasting peace, emphasizing that wars ultimately devastate innocent populations more than anyone else.
