Pope Leo XIV concluded his inaugural meeting with journalists accredited to the Vatican on Monday morning.

According to reports, over 1,000 media members, some accompanied by their children, attended the event.

The gathering was held in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, where the Pope expressed his gratitude to the reporters for their dedicated work in recent weeks.

“Let us strip communication of bias, resentment, fanaticism, and hatred,” the Pope urged the assembled journalists. “Let us disarm words, and in doing so, help disarm the world.”

The 69-year-old pontiff advocated for the freedom of imprisoned journalists and emphasized the importance of free speech and a free press, the Associated Press noted.

He voiced his support for journalists who have been imprisoned for their efforts to uncover and report the truth, prompting applause from the audience, and requested their release.

“The Church recognizes in these individuals—I am referring to those who report on war, even at the risk of their lives—the bravery of those who uphold dignity, justice, and the right of the public to be informed, as only informed citizens can make informed choices,” he stated.

The Pope also addressed the responsible use of artificial intelligence in journalism, urging the media to “ensure that it is used for the benefit of all humanity.”

While primarily speaking in Italian, the Pope began with a lighthearted joke in English regarding the standing ovation he received.

“Thank you for the wonderful welcome,” he said. “It is said that initial applause doesn’t mean much. If you are still awake at the end and still feel like applauding, I would be very grateful.”

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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