Pope: “No to the use of intelligence to manipulate politicians and journalists”

Vatican City (Vaticano), Dec. 12 (LaPresse) – “It is necessary to ensure that confidential information is not used to intimidate, manipulate, blackmail, or discredit the service of politicians, journalists, or other civil society actors.” This was the appeal of Pope Leo XIV to the Leaders and Officials of the Italian Intelligence. The Pope invited those present to carry out their service with professionalism and with an outlook that takes into account the “respect for the dignity of the human person and the ethics of communication.” On the first point, the Pontiff stressed that “security activity must never lose sight of this foundational dimension and must never fail to respect the dignity rights of each individual.” The Pope then urged them to “remain vigilant against temptations.” “Make sure,” he said, “that your actions are always proportionate to the common good to be pursued,” and that the protection of national security guarantees “people’s rights, their private and family life.” Regarding the ethics of communication, Prevost emphasized that one must “remain vigilant with a critical conscience on matters of vital importance” such as “the distinction between truth and fake news, the undue exposure of private life, the manipulation of the most vulnerable, the logic of blackmail, the incitement to hatred and violence.”