POPE Leo spoke up for the “precious gift of free speech” yesterday and called for the release of jailed journalists.

Leo told of the scourge of fake news and online hatred in an address to 6,000 members of the media in Vatican City.

The pontiff echoed his predecessor Francis’s plea for careful communication “in favour of peace” rather than inflammatory rants.

His speech took aim at nations including China, Israel, Myanmar, Belarus and Russia, which have jailed the most journalists.

Those held by tyrannical regimes include Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

He was released 16 months after being held on trumped-up charges in Vladimir Putin’s Russia in 2023.

Pope Leo said: “Peace begins with each one of us…

“In the way we look at others, listen to others and speak about others. In this sense, the way we communicate is of fundamental importance.

“We must say ‘no’ to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war.

The suffering of these imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations and the international community, calling on all of us to safeguard the precious gift of free speech and of the press

Leo

“Let me reiterate the Church’s solidarity with journalists who are imprisoned for seeking to report the truth, and I also ask for the release of these imprisoned journalists.

“The suffering of these imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations and the international community, calling on all of us to safeguard the precious gift of free speech and of the press.”

Leo hit out at social media bullies and trolls who try to dominate online debates.

He said: “We have experienced — we can say together — truly special days.

“We have shared them through every form of media: TV, radio, internet, and social media.

“I sincerely hope each of us can say that these days unveiled a little bit of the mystery of our humanity and left us with a desire for love and peace.

“For this reason, I repeat the invitation by Pope Francis: ‘Let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred; let us free it from aggression.

“We do not need loud, forceful communication, but rather communication that is capable of listening and of gathering the voices of the weak who have no voice.”

Leo added: “You are at the forefront of reporting on conflicts and aspirations for peace, on situations of injustice and poverty. I ask you to choose consciously and courageously the path of communication in favour of peace.”