Pope Leo XIV emphasizes the importance of press freedom
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE — Pope Leo XIV said Friday he welcomes journalists to chronicle his travels, in sharp contrast to President Donald Trump, who recently kicked three news outlets out of the White House before having to undo that ban, reports BritPanorama.
The leader of the world’s Catholics responded to inquiries regarding the White House’s recent struggles with America’s free press. While the pope did not mention Trump by name, he emphasized that good and thorough news coverage “is very important.”
A federal court on Thursday compelled the Trump administration to restore CNN, MS Now, and Politico’s access to their White House workspaces, underscoring ongoing tensions between the media and the administration.
“I am very happy that here you are all welcome, and we have it all the way around for everybody,” the pope stated. “Good coverage, I think, is very important, and we have it all the way around for everybody. Thank you.”
On a lighter note, the Chicago-raised Leo smiled when asked about his cherished White Sox qualifying for the MLB playoffs — a remarkable achievement considering that the South Siders were 121 games as recently as 2024.
“Some call it a miracle — do you have anything to do with that?” a reporter queried. “No comment,” a smiling Leo replied. “Great things happen in Chicago.”
The White Sox won the 2005 World Series, a moment captured by Fox television when a fan named Robert Prevost appeared on screen; he would later become Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost and thus the first American pope.
In the backdrop of these events, the pope’s comments reflect not just on his papacy but also the broader implications of press relations in democratic societies.
