Pope Leo XIV Defends Free Press During France Visit

While traveling to France for a four-day visit on September 25, 2026, Pope Leo XIV affirmed the importance of a free and independent press. Speaking aboard his plane, the Pope stated that comprehensive media coverage is important for everyone and welcomed all journalists to report on him.

These comments followed efforts by the administration of Donald Trump to bar media outlets, including CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, from the White House. Although U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly ordered the restoration of those credentials, the Trump administration reportedly defied the order twice in one day. The Pope's defense of the press coincides with existing tensions between him and the U.S. president over the war in Iran.

During his visit to France, Pope Leo XIV visited UNESCO to promote multilateral diplomacy and peace through culture and education, a move that distanced him from the United States' withdrawal from the agency. He also criticized the impact of artificial intelligence on the human essence. Additionally, the Pope apologized to reporters for a previous incident in the Canary Islands, where a charter plane malfunction forced him to return to Rome alone, leaving the press stranded and causing him to miss a scheduled press conference.