Pope Leo XIV commemorated
World Press Freedom Day by calling attention to the dire state of media freedom globally. He noted that
2025 was the deadliest year for journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. At the Vatican, the Pope expressed sorrow for those who lost their lives in pursuit of truth, stating,
“We remember the many journalists and reporters who have been victims of war and violence.” He condemned the ongoing challenges faced by the press, pointing out,
“Unfortunately, this right is often violated, sometimes in blatant ways, sometimes in more hidden forms.” The Pope stressed that independent journalism is essential for peace and democracy, highlighting a worrying trend: more than half of the world’s countries are currently rated as having
difficult or very serious conditions for press freedom, indicating increasing criminalization of journalism. The day was
first established by the United Nations in 1993 to raise awareness of the struggle for media freedom, a cause even more pressing today as outlined by organizations like UNESCO. Their reports warn that
press freedom has declined steeply since 2012, comparable to historical crises like the world wars and the Cold War. Thus, the Pope urged unity in supporting journalists against censorship and violence.
Sources: 
Pope Leo XIV marked World Press Freedom Day, paying tribute to journalists killed in conflict and condemning ongoing violations of media freedom. He emphasized the importance of independent journalism, lamenting that press freedom is often compromised, sometimes blatantly and at other times subtly.
