Pope Leo marks World Press Freedom Day, condemns media violations and honours journalists killed in conflict zones

May 5, 2026

Pope Leo XIV marked World Press Freedom Day on Sunday by condemning violations of media freedom worldwide and honoring journalists killed in conflict zones, delivering his remarks after weekly prayer at Saint Peter's Square. The observance comes as Reporters Without Borders reports press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in 25 years, with more than half of countries now rated as difficult or very serious for media freedom. The Watson Institute's Costs of War project found Israel's war on Gaza has been the deadliest conflict for media workers ever recorded, with 232 Palestinian journalists killed since October 2023—more than died in both world wars, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, and Afghanistan combined. Pope Leo, who has previously called journalism a pillar of democracy that should never be considered a crime, urged the faithful to remember those who lost their lives pursuing truth.

Pope Leo's World Press Freedom Day address and condemnation of media violations

▪Pope Leo has described journalism as a pillar of society and democracy in past speeches.
▪Pope Leo marked World Press Freedom Day by condemning violations of media freedom around the world.
▪Pope Leo delivered remarks at the end of his weekly Sunday prayer in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican.
▪Pope Leo stated that the right to press freedom is often violated in both blatant and hidden forms.
▪Pope Leo has stated that doing journalism could never be considered a crime.
▪World Press Freedom Day is intended to show support for media organisations that come under pressure or censorship.

Journalists killed in conflict zones, particularly Gaza

▪Pope Leo urged the faithful to remember journalists who have lost their lives pursuing the truth in conflict areas.
▪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.
▪Pope Leo paid tribute to journalists killed while reporting in conflict zones on World Press Freedom Day.
▪Israeli forces have killed 232 Palestinian journalists in Gaza since October 2023.

Global decline in press freedom and criminalization of journalism

▪For the first time since 2002, more than half of the world's countries fall into difficult or very serious categories for press freedom in the Reporters Without Borders index.
▪Reporters Without Borders started producing its press freedom index in 2002.
▪Reporters Without Borders found that freedom of the press around the world has fallen to its lowest level in a quarter of a century.
▪Reporters Without Borders stated that journalism is increasingly criminalised worldwide.
▪Reporters Without Borders released its press freedom findings last week.

Perspective of Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs

▪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.
▪More journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 2023 than in both world wars, the Vietnam War, the wars in Yugoslavia, and the United States war in Afghanistan combined.