Pope marks World Press Freedom Day with call to protect journalists
By Faith Lagat, May 3, 2026Pope Leo has marked World Press Freedom Day by condemning violations of media freedom around the world and paying tribute to journalists killed while reporting in conflict zones.
At the end of his weekly Sunday prayer in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican, the pontiff said the day highlighted both the importance of independent journalism and the growing threats faced by reporters.
“Today we celebrate World Press Freedom Day … unfortunately, this right is often violated, sometimes in blatant ways, sometimes in more hidden forms,” he said.
World Press Freedom Day, sponsored by the UN cultural agency UNESCO, is intended to show support for media organisations that come under pressure or censorship. It also serves as a day to commemorate journalists who have been killed in the line of duty.
Tribute to journalists killed in conflict zones
The Roman Catholic leader urged the faithful to remember journalists and reporters who have lost their lives pursuing the truth, particularly in conflict areas.
“We remember the many journalists and reporters who have been victims of war and violence,” the pope said.
In past speeches, the leader of the Catholic Church has described journalism as a pillar of society and democracy, and information as a public good that must be safeguarded and defended.
Gaza war and press freedom concerns
A report last month by the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs’ Costs of War project found that Israel’s war on Gaza was the deadliest conflict for media workers ever recorded, with Israeli forces having killed 232 Palestinian journalists since October 2023.
The report further stated that more journalists have been killed in Gaza than in both world wars, the Vietnam War, the wars in Yugoslavia, and the United States war in Afghanistan combined.
Press freedom decline globally
The pontiff has frequently thanked reporters for sharing the truth, saying their work could never be considered a crime, and has called for the release of journalists who have been detained or prosecuted.
Last week, Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF), also known as Reporters Without Borders, reported that global press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in 25 years.
The report found that more than half of the world’s countries now fall into “difficult” or “very serious” categories for press freedom, describing it as a sign of increasing criminalisation of journalism worldwide.