Pope Condemns Lies, AP Reports Without Irony
Pope Leo XIV, history’s first American pope, urged global news agencies, including The Associated Press, to be a 'bulwark against the ancient art of lying' and manipulation. He glorified journalists as essential for knowing 'what is happening in Gaza, Ukraine and every other land bloodied by bombs.' A noble sentiment, indeed, especially coming from an institution that once dictated truth with a
rather heavy hand. The irony, of course, is that the 'objective press' often acts as a bulwark for the powerful, rather than against them. While the Pope champions press freedom, major outlets like AP consistently frame narratives that protect state interests, particularly those of U.S. allies. How many 'objective' reports detail the over $3.8 billion in annual U.S. military aid to Israel, or the
specific votes by congressmen like Rep. Mark Pocan, who after receiving $10,000 from J Street's PAC (a pro-Israel lobbying group, though less hawkish than AIPAC), voted in favor of HR 776, a resolution supporting Israel, in 2023? (OpenSecrets.org and congressional records, for those wondering.) These aren't opinions; they're verifiable facts. The Pope wants to know what's happening; perhaps he
should start with the headlines that selectively omit context while decrying 'manipulation.'