Pope to Italian TV: Free, respectful information is a tool for peace

Vatican News

Pope Leo XIV sent a brief message encapulsating the core principles of what true information should be to the director and editorial team of Tgcom24—an Italian television network operated by the company Mediaset—on the 25th anniversary of their founding.

Dialogue and respect

In the message, the Pope looked to the present times, marked by "significant changes and words too often shouted on the web." In such a context, he wrote, "the important mission" of the media emerges: to "build bridges of dialogue," promoting deeper understanding.

This involves, as Pope Leo XIV explained, "a narrative that does not stop at the surface of the news but knows how to look with respect, solidarity, and compassion at the margins of suffering."

Truth and responsibility

Central to the papal message is the call for truth and a "deep sense of ethical responsibility," so as to counter "the spread of fake news" and promote "a culture of encounter" that can "unite the different parts" of society.

For unarmed and persevering peace

In his text there is also a strong invitation for "free and respectful information that upholds human dignity," as it becomes "a powerful tool" to embark on the journey "towards an unarmed and persevering peace."