Pope Francis condemned the global proliferation of fake news, linking it to increased societal polarization and recent acts of violence, including the assassination attempt on U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Addressing Holy See diplomats on January 9, the Pope highlighted the dangers of misinformation spread via social media and AI.
“This phenomenon generates false images of reality, a climate of suspicion that foments hate, undermines people’s sense of security, and compromises civil coexistence and the stability of entire nations,” Pope Francis said. He referenced the July 2024 attack on Trump as an example of this alarming trend.
He warned of how “modern communications media and artificial intelligence … can be misused to manipulate minds for economic, political, and ideological ends.” The Pope called for media literacy education to help individuals critically evaluate information.
Pope Francis also criticized the reinterpretation of human rights treaties. “It represents a form of genuine ideological colonization,” he said, adding that such actions erode traditions, history and religious bonds.
The address, delivered by an aide due to Pope Francis’s cold, included a denunciation of “cancel culture,” which the Pope described as tolerating “no differences” and prioritizing individual rights at the expense of others, especially vulnerable groups.
Francis concluded by urging a “diplomacy of truth” to counteract polarization and restore trust in international institutions.
Pray with Pope Francis for an end to fake news and cancel culture!
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Editorial credit: Marco Iacobucci Epp / Shutterstock.com | Text credit: Holy See Press Office Bulletin
