Pope Leo has seemingly criticized Donald Trump’s controversial “hype videos” about the Iran war. In a recent press interview in Italy, the pope highlighted the power that journalists hold during times of conflict.
Pope Leo urges journalist to show ‘suffering’ in Iran war
Pope Leo XIV appears to have called out President Donald Trump’s recent “hype videos” about the Iran war. Speaking with Italian reporters on Monday, March 16, he encouraged journalists to showcase the real horrors of the war instead of treating it like a “video game.” Although the pope did not mention Trump or the Iran war directly, he emphasized journalistic integrity during a time of war.
“Always, but especially in the dramatic circumstances of war, such as those we are experiencing, information must guard against the risk of turning into propaganda,” Pope Leo stated, as reported by Vatican News.
The pope continued that at the time of war, “the task of journalists, in verifying the news so as not to become a megaphone for power, becomes even more urgent and delicate—and indeed, essential.”
He added that the media has the power “to show the suffering that war always brings to populations, to show the face of war, and to tell it through the eyes of the victims so that it does not turn into a video game.”
Pope Leo’s statement comes after the White House shared a series of controversial videos highlighting some US military operations amid the ongoing war with Iran, comparing the strikes to video games like Grand Theft Auto.
The videos, which ABC News labelled as “hype videos,” drew widespread criticism. Speaking with CNN, New York Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan said that Trump “continues to act and behave as if this is some sort of a video game. It’s disgraceful.”
Most recently, a White House spokeswoman, gave a statement, saying, “Under the decisive leadership of President Trump, America’s heroic warfighters are meeting or surpassing all of their goals under Operation Epic Fury. The legacy media wants us to apologize for highlighting the United States Military’s incredible success.”
