Pope Leo XIV on Friday defended the media’s right to cover public figures, following US President Donald Trump’s unsuccessful efforts to bar some news outlets critical of his administration from the White House.
Good media coverage is important, and it is equally important that we have it all the way around, for everyone,” said Leo, the first American to become pope. “A special mention I would like to make for those of you who were travelling with me when we returned to Rome from Spain,” he said. “I want to apologise personally for an incident that I had nothing to do with, but which I know left a number of you unhappy because we couldn’t make the flight back to Rome together.”
The pope spoke to reporters aboard the papal plane en route to France for a four-day visit. Asked by a CNN reporter about the Trump administration’s efforts to bar the network and two other media houses, Leo replied the media was welcome aboard his plane. “I am very happy that everyone is welcome here. But the dispute between the president and news organisations whose coverage he dislikes continued.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico returned to the White House on Thursday after a judge temporarily blocked Trump’s ban on the outlets.