Pope Leo XIV, the first American to hold the papal office, did something this Monday that struck a chord, not just in the hallowed halls of the Vatican, but across the globe. He stood before an audience of some 6,000 journalists, a veritable United Nations of the Fourth Estate, and delivered a powerful affirmation of the precious gift of free speech and the press.
This 69-year-old Augustinian missionary, barely a week into his papacy, did not mince words. He called for the release of journalists imprisoned for seeking and reporting the truth. He urged his audience to use their words for peace, to reject the war of words and images, and to give voice to the voiceless in society.
The question that keeps bouncing around my mind is, what kind of world would it be if we all followed the Pope’s prescription? If we heed his call to recognize the courage of journalists who risk their lives reporting on war and conflict? And what if we do more to safeguard the precious gift of free speech and the press?
The Pope’s message was not just for the journalists present in the auditorium, but for everyone of us. He pointed out that peace begins with each of us, in the way we look at others, listen to others, and speak about others. In his words, ‘the way we communicate is of fundamental importance.
When we use our words for peace, we reject the paradigm of war. We give a voice to the voiceless. And when we do that, we inch closer to a world where informed individuals can make free choices.
Leo also hinted at plans for a trip to Turkey to commemorate an important event in Catholic-Orthodox relations: the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea, Christianity’s first ecumenical council. This gives us a glimpse into the broader vision that guides this Pope: one of unity, peace, and understanding.
This American Pope is steadfast, steadier than a cypress in a storm. His call for the release of imprisoned journalists, his emphasis on peace, and his respect for the power of words resonate deeply in our souls.
The jailed journalists the Pope speaks of have a song to sing – a song of truth. And all of us, whether journalists or not, we too have a responsibility to sing our songs of truth. Because only then can we build a world that is just, informed, and free.
