Even Pope Leo XIV is Sounding the Alarm on Clickbait and Fake News

Pope Leo XIV issued a stark warning about clickbait during a private audience with 150 members of the Minds International newswire alliance at the Vatican.

He described sensationalist headlines as “degrading” journalism and emphasized the role of media as a public good that must be defended.

He applauded reporters covering crises in Gaza and Ukraine for their courage, ethics, and dedication to informing the public.

The pope also raised concerns about artificial intelligence shaping news and questioned who controls its algorithms.

Stressing the importance of transparency, accountability, and quality, he urged journalists to safeguard their authority and highlighted news agencies as vital defenders of serious, ethical reporting in an era overwhelmed by “junk” information.