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Pope Leo has called on journalists and news organizations to resist posting clickbait and act as a moral barrier against the rise of bullshit and artificial intelligence-driven manipulation.

Getting into it: While attending a global journalism conference hosted by Minds International in Rome, Pope Leo XIV delivered a message on the responsibilities of modern media. He condemned the “degrading practice of so-called clickbait,” urging news organizations to rise above the pressures of digital engagement metrics. “Communication must be freed from the misguided thinking that corrupts it, from unfair competition and from the degrading practice of so-called clickbait,” he said. He added, “I urge you: never sell out your authority.”

Pope Leo also expressed concern about the growing role of artificial intelligence in shaping the information landscape. He warned that AI-driven content risks blurring the line between reality and bullshit. He asked the audience this question: “Artificial intelligence is changing the way we receive information and communicate, but who directs it and for what purposes?”

He called on journalists to combat what he termed “junk information” and stressed the need to help the public distinguish between fact and fiction. “We are not destined to live in a world where truth is no longer distinguishable from fiction,” he said, urging vigilance to ensure that technology remains a tool for humans, not a replacement for them.

The Pope’s speech also paid tribute to the sacrifice of journalists reporting from conflict zones. He acknowledged the frontline reporters covering wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Africa, and other crisis regions, stating, “Every day, there are reporters who put their lives at risk to inform people about what is really happening.” He called these journalists essential to global awareness, saying, “If today we know what is happening in Gaza, Ukraine, and every other land bloodied by bombs, we largely owe it to them.”