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Vatican City – This morning, within the architectural embrace of the Paul VI Hall designed by Pier Luigi Nervi, Pope Leo XIV met with representatives of the international press, gathered for the occasion of the Conclave. True to his style, the Holy Father appeared serene, measured, and gracious. He opened his address with a warm “Buongiorno!”, followed by a greeting in English to immediately put his audience at ease: “Good morning, and thank you for this wonderful reception! They say when they clap at the beginning it doesn’t matter much… If you are still awake at the end, and you still want to applaud… Thank you very much!"
Leo XIV, as is well known, speaks several languages, and his attentiveness in reaching each person was evident from the outset. In the front row of the audience sat senior members of the Dicastery for Communication, whose positions have been provisionally confirmed. However, it is clear that this confirmation is a temporary measure, not a definitive choice. Just before the meeting, a curial cardinal – on the route leading from the Arco delle Campane towards St Peter’s Square – candidly shared a reflection voiced during the congregations: “One of the most hotly debated issues was precisely that of communication. The mistakes made, even in recent hours, are serious and systemic. We are not speaking of a random blog, but of structures that, thanks to the system of recent years, have become official organs of information, into which millions of euros from the faithful have been invested. It is unacceptable that, in such a delicate moment for the Holy See, management appears so inadequate.”
Around the figure of Leo XIV, a sense of caution and mistrust continues to linger — both among certain journalists and within the leadership of Vatican communications. Unfortunately, some so-called vaticanisti – like Rocca – remain fixated on trivial and superficial aspects, often tied to the Pope’s personality, rather than the core of his message. In today’s address, the Pope specifically urged these individuals to reflect not only on the content of what is communicated, but also on how it is communicated: a clear invitation to embark upon a genuine path of conversion, which many Vatican commentators would do well to take seriously.
The concern is serious and is not about individuals, but about the method. After all these years, we have reached the point where, when the Pope speaks during the Regina Caeli about vocation, prayer, and the priesthood, the only aspect highlighted in Vatican News’ official tweets is the reference to war – simply because it garners more “likes” and visibility. In doing so, the message is reduced and stripped of its spiritual richness, making this so-called “news outlet” no different from Il manifesto. The mission of Vatican, Holy See and diocesan communications structures must be, above all, to evangelise and to tell the story of faith — the beauty of being Christian. During his speech, the Pope quoted Saint Augustine: «We are living in times that are both difficult to navigate and to recount. They present a challenge for all of us but it is one that we should not run away from. On the contrary, they demand that each one of us, in our different roles and services, never give in to mediocrity. The Church must face the challenges posed by the times. In the same way, communication and journalism do not exist outside of time and history. Saint Augustine reminds of this when he said, “Let us live well and the times will be good. We are the times”»
A powerful appeal to both personal and collective responsibility — especially for those tasked with narrating reality.
The Pope then reaffirmed the Church’s support for journalists imprisoned or persecuted in their pursuit of truth, underlining that press freedom is a precious asset that must be safeguarded. He added: “Communication is not merely the transmission of information, but the creation of a culture, of human and digital environments that become spaces of dialogue and encounter.”
These words are especially relevant in a context where, regrettably, certain sectors of Vatican and para-Vatican communication operate under exclusionary logics, perpetuating power dynamics, fostering suspicion, and even slandering those deemed “outside the magic circle.” Pope Leo XIV appears intent on restoring a more inspired communicative style, akin to that of twelve years ago: a style that proposes rather than imposes, that invites rather than judges, that educates without mocking. It is clear that the Pope is aware that not everyone present in the Paul VI Hall this morning has always acted in the name of truth. Nevertheless, he did not point fingers — he showed the way: the path of service to truth, of integrity, and of coherence between word and life.
The Pope’s appeal to the vaticanisti, especially those who frequent the Vatican Press Office and indulge in venomous comments against prelates, bishops, or anyone they label as “competitors”, is an invitation to stop. “Today, one of the most important challenges is to promote a kind of communication that can help us escape the ‘Tower of Babel’ in which we sometimes find ourselves – a confusion of loveless language, often ideological or biased. Therefore, your service – in the words you choose and the style you adopt – is crucial. Communication, indeed, is not only about transmitting facts, but about creating a culture, and building human and digital spaces of dialogue and exchange,” he said.
The Pope urges everyone to free themselves from ideological or partisan frameworks when speaking of the Church, and to make an effort to engage in dialogue, even with those perceived as “rivals” — perhaps simply because they are doing good work or revealing some of our shortcomings. Authentic communication is not driven by envy or jealousy, nor should it react with annoyance when an error is pointed out. Those who expose schemes or manoeuvres to gain personal advantages (promotions, secret deals, defamatory chat messages or posts) are not attacking, but serving the truth. And those who are affected by such truths should respond with conversion, not with irritation at being caught out. In his address, the Pope called for a communication of peace, free from aggression, attentive to listening, and capable of telling the stories of goodness — the silent daily work of so many people. He reiterated the collective responsibility we share in the face of new technological tools, such as artificial intelligence, ensuring they are oriented toward the common good. “We don’t need noisy, muscular communication,” he said, “but communication able to amplify the voice of the voiceless. Let us disarm our words, and we shall contribute to disarming the Earth.” The concluding message was crystal clear: only a disarmed communication can build true peace, and only a free and responsible journalism can contribute to a more just society. The Pope’s calm yet resolute tone stands as an invitation to all: journalists, communicators, members of the Church and lay faithful — to abandon the logic of gossip and sensationalism, and to seek, together, a higher path.
F.G. and p.L.T.
Silere non possum