Pope Leo XIV Defends Media Freedom Amid White House Press Dispute

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.

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. 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.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico returned to the White House on Thursday after a judge temporarily blocked Trump’s ban on the outlets.

But the dispute between the president and news organisations whose coverage he dislikes continued.

On a high-profile day, as Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Washington and attended a state dinner, no major US television network aired live coverage.

CNN and MS NOW also claimed their journalists were denied access to Xi’s arrival at the state dinner.

Leo has repeatedly affirmed the importance of a free and independent press, including in one of his first audiences as pope.

Speaking to journalists who covered the 2025 conclave that elected him, he had called for the release of imprisoned journalists and described free speech and a free press as a “precious gift.”

During the flight to France, Leo also apologised for missing an opportunity to speak with reporters during his previous international trip.

At the time, his Iberia charter aircraft broke down in Spain’s Canary Islands, forcing him to return to the Vatican alone aboard the Spanish king’s private jet and miss the traditional airborne press conference.

More than 70 reporters and members of the Vatican delegation waited for several hours at the airport for a replacement aircraft.

Leo addressed their disappointment when he went to the back of the plane to greet them.

“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.”