Pope Francis expressed concerns on January 9 regarding the threats posed by misinformation, particularly through social media and artificial intelligence, warning that these tools could be exploited to sway public opinion.
During his New Year’s address to diplomats at the Vatican, he highlighted the growing division within society, exacerbated by the relentless spread of fake news that distorts both facts and perceptions.
The pontiff noted that this issue creates misleading representations of reality, fostering an atmosphere of distrust that breeds hatred and jeopardizes social stability.
His remarks followed Meta's announcement about shifting its misinformation strategy in the U.S., which raised further alarms about the potential for manipulation in the digital age.
Francis urged political leaders to recognize the prevalence of denial regarding obvious truths and emphasized the importance of media literacy to cultivate critical thinking skills.
He also condemned "cancel culture" for its intolerance of differing views and warned against the manipulation of international agreements to promote divisive ideologies.
He stated that it is simply intolerable to discuss a supposed 'right to abortion' when it stands in opposition to fundamental human rights, especially the right to life.
Francis warned that multilateral organizations might devolve into exclusive groups that only accept those who share identical views, suggesting that they now appear unable to foster peace and stability.