The pontiff made the remarks while speaking to reporters traveling with him on his journey to France. He was answering a question about the media’s presence on the trip, a matter that had been raised in connection with the Trump White House’s efforts to keep U.S. press outside the White House.
During a Friday stop on his four-day trip to France, Leo addressed the importance of solid media coverage, asserting that such coverage should be accessible “for everyone.”.
The Pope’s Words on the Plane
Leo also apologized for missing an opportunity to speak with reporters the last time he traveled internationally. His Iberia charter broke down in Spain’s Canary Islands, and he returned solo on the king’s private jet.
When he reached the back of the plane to speak with the reporters, he responded to their disappointment.
The UNESCO Visit in France
The U.S. has withdrawn from UNESCO, the agency of the United Nations that deals with education and culture, as part of its wider international retreat, and it was there that Leo went.
He made a tour of the grounds, greeted the staff, had a look at the art collections, and gave a speech on the values UNESCO stands for, speaking to the idea of peace built through culture and education.
The Villanova Basketball Claim
When Villanova and Notre Dame face off in Rome on Nov. 1, Leo expects the crowd to favor Villanova. The match pits the Augustinian university against Catholic University of Notre Dame’s basketball team.
He said that “the people coming to the match, 90% are Villanova and 10% Notre Dame, so the voice of the people of God will be very strong on the Villanova side.”
The State Visit That Drew the Crowds
Leo’s visit to France marked the first official state visit by a pope in 18 years. Parisians opposed to Trump’s policies came out in droves to celebrate, giving Leo points for his position against the war.
The Photo Opportunity Problem
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, independent media have been prevented from covering photo opportunities inside the pope’s private studio when heads of state visit. Many of the pope’s private audiences with other groups and individuals are closed to non-Vatican press.
Trump’s Ban on Reporters
The Trump White House’s efforts to keep U.S. press outside the White House have included a ban on reporters. CNN, MS NOW and Politico returned to the White House Thursday following a judge’s reprieve from that ban.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Pope speaks to reporters | Friday, en route to France |
| CNN, MS NOW and Politico return to White House | Thursday |
| Judge grants reprieve from Trump’s ban | Thursday |
| Xi Jinping visits Washington | Thursday |
| State dinner with Xi | Thursday |
| UNESCO visit in France | Part of four-day French visit |
| Villanova vs. Notre Dame game in Rome | Nov. 1 |
The Ban’s Effects on Coverage
The White House continues to bar U.S. media, with CNN, MS NOW and Politico having returned following a judge’s visit’s intervention. No major American network aired live coverage of the pope’s remarks come after the White House return.
UNESCO and the Pope’s Speech
Leo’s trip to UNESCO is a reminder of the international retreat the U.S. has pursued. Leo’s speech there promoted peace through culture and education, values promoted by UNESCO.
Leo’s words on the plane reflect a broader tension. The pope has criticized the war, and his position won points with Parisians opposed to Trump’s policies.
The trouble with access to the Vatican still remains unresolved. Independent press are barred from reporting on photo opportunities in the pope’s private studio when heads of state visit, and audiences with other groups and individuals are shut out to reporters who are not part of the Vatican’s own press corps.
The White House continues to bar U.S. media, with CNN, MS NOW and Politico having returned following a judge’s visit’s intervention. No major network aired live coverage of Xi’s arrival, though both outlets reported their journalists were denied access to the state dinner.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs smaller government and the press and is against any office gathering power to keep reporters out. The pope’s words praising the press and his speech at UNESCO come against a backdrop of the Trump administration’s ban on reporters, and the paper notes the irony. The Vatican’s own restrictions on independent media at the pope’s studio add to the picture.
The story shows a pope speaking warmly of press freedom while his own home keeps independent reporters out of private audiences and studio photo opportunities. The paper would prefer a pope who leads by example, opening his audiences and studio to the media that he praises.
Readers should watch for the line between public praise and private restriction.
Source material: “Pope Leo XIV affirms need for media to cover public figures when asked about Trump ban,” PBS.
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