Pope Francis expressed concern over the impact of social media, warning against excessive scrolling, which he described as causing ‘brain rot.’
Pope Francis made the remark at the Jubilee of the World of Communications in Rome, an event which attracted around 9,000 journalists and writers from 138 countries, both in person and online.
The pope also urged Catholic journalists and media workers to be courageous truth-tellers and bearers of hope in an age marked by conflict, division, and misinformation.
Francis called for storytelling that nurtures life and inspires hope.
The event featured notable guests, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa a Filipiano-Americam journalist, who spoke of her personal experiences of persecution and emphasised the role of journalists in protecting democracy and truth.
Irish author Colum McCann also shared his insights on the vital role of journalism in today’s world.
Addressing attendees on Saturday at the Vatican, Pope Francis urged the audience: “Let your storytelling be hope-telling.”
He reminded the audience of the sacrifices made by media professionals, noting that over 120 journalists lost their lives in 2024 while covering conflicts.
Most of them were killed by the Israeli military in Gaza.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said at least 167 journalists and media workers were killed in the Gaza Strip between October 7 2023 and January 25 2025.
The CPJ, which is an independent, non-profit organisation that promotes press freedom worldwide, has determined that at least 11 journalists and two media workers were directly targeted by Israeli forces in killings which CPJ classifies as murders:
Issam Abdallah, Hamza Al Dahdouh, Mustafa Thuraya, Ismail Al Ghoul, Rami Al Refee, Ghassan Najjar, Wissam Kassem, Mohammed Reda, Ayman Al Gedi, Faisal Abu Al Qumsan, Mohammed Al-Ladaa, Fadi Hassouna, and Ibrahim Sheikh Ali.
Pope Francis concluded his message with a call to action, urging journalists and communicators to create narratives that inspire, heal, and build bridges in a divided world.
