Pope takes swipe at those who attack journalists — as Trump rages about 'fake news'

Pope Leo XIV dropped a political statement in his first conversation with the media on Monday.

Among his comments was praise for, and solidarity with, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. The pontiff then took a swipe at the lack of free speech in Russia.

“Let me, therefore, reiterate today the Church’s solidarity with journalists who are imprisoned for seeking and reporting the truth while also asking for their release," the pope said, according to a post on X by Fox News' chief national security correspondent, Jennifer Griffin.

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"The Church recognizes in these witnesses – I am thinking of those who report on war even at the cost of their lives – the courage of those who defend dignity, justice and the right of people to be informed, because only informed individuals can make free choices. The suffering of these imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations and the international community, calling on all of us to safeguard the precious gift of free speech and of the press," he said.

“The suffering of these imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations and the international community, calling on all of us to safeguard the precious gift of free speech and of the press," he added. “Thank you, dear friends, for your service to the truth.”

The comments came just before U.S. President Donald Trump attacked an ABC News reporter during a press conference Monday morning.

Rachel Scott pressed Trump on the $400 million “palace in the sky” luxury airplane that Trump plans to accept from Qatar.

Trump called Scott “fake news” and said that she “should be embarrassed” for asking the question.

See the press conference via the AP below or at the link here.