Overview

• The Pope met news agency leaders at the Vatican on October 9, 2025, during their visit to Rome.
• Executives from Reuters, the Associated Press, and Italy’s ANSA were among more than 20 participants.
• In prepared remarks, he said, “Free access to information is a pillar of society; we must protect it.”
• Kyodo News reported the encounter in a Rome dispatch, and Hokkaido Shimbun Digital carried the piece as a paywalled article.
• The message follows his post-election appeals in May for ethical reporting and responsible use of AI in newsrooms.