Pope Francis on Saturday condemned “disinformation” and false news, which he says constitute “journalism’s first sin” in trying to orient public opinion.
• Also read: A renowned climatologist will debate with conspirators to counter misinformation
• Also read: Pope closes WYD in Lisbon in front of 1.5 million pilgrims
• Also read: 800,000 young people travel to the Pope
“Disinformation is the first sin, the mistake – let’s put it that way – of journalism,” he said during an audience at the Vatican on the occasion of the presentation of a journalism prize in the presence of Italian journalists.
“Disinformation is one of the sins of journalism, of which there are four: disinformation, when a journalist is uninformed or poorly informed; slander (sometimes used); slander, which differs from slander but destroys; and the fourth is (…) the love of scandal,” the Argentine Pope said in a Vatican statement.
“For example, I am concerned about the manipulations of those who spread fake news out of interest in directing public opinion,” he explained, calling for “an outburst of responsibility” in “the dramatic situation in which the economy finds itself. Europe, with the continuation of the war in Ukraine”.
“My hope is that space will be given to the voices of peace, those who, like so many others, are working to end this conflict,” he said.
The 86-year-old Argentine pope, who will travel to Mongolia next week, is a gifted communicator. Since his election, he has given numerous interviews and has shown himself to be much more talkative and relaxed than his predecessor Benedict XVI.