Speaking during a meeting with broadcasters from Italy’s TG2 television news programme at the Vatican, Leo called on reporters to portray the realities of war through the experiences of its victims.

He appealed to journalists “to show the face of war and tell it through the eyes of the victims, so as not to turn it into a video game.”

Leo warned that in periods of intense conflict, information can easily drift into propaganda if journalists fail to carefully verify facts and maintain editorial independence.

“In the dramatic circumstances of war, such as those we are experiencing, information must guard against the risk of turning into propaganda,” he saidJournalists must work to verify news and ensure they do not become “a megaphone of power,” he added.

Although the pope did not reference a specific conflict in Monday’s remarks, he has intensified appeals in recent days for an end to the expanding U.S.–Israeli war with Iran.

On Sunday, Leo called for an immediate ceasefire in what he described as the “atrocious violence” of the conflict, marking some of his strongest comments since hostilities escalated.

Leo’s warning about portraying war as entertainment echoed comments earlier this month from Blase Cupich, who criticized the White House for sharing a social media video featuring footage from the Iran conflict intercut with scenes from video games and action films.

Cupich described the video as “sickening,” arguing that such imagery risks trivializing the realities of war and the suffering of civilians.

Speaking during the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff said “deeply troubling news” continued to arrive from Iran and the broader region, expressing concern about the humanitarian and political consequences of the escalating violence call for ceasefire and dialogue

Addressing thousands gathered in the square, Pope Leo appealed for an immediate halt to military attacks and urged efforts to reopen channels for dialogue.“Let us raise our humble prayer to the Lord that the roar of bombs may cease, that weapons may fall silent, and that space may be opened for dialogue in which the voices of peoples can be heard,” he said.The pope framed the conflict as a source of growing fear and hostility, warning that continued fighting risks deepening divisions across the region.fears of wider regional spilloverThe pontiff also expressed concern that the conflict could spread beyond its current boundaries, drawing additional countries into the confrontation.He specifically referenced Lebanon, describing it as “dear Lebanon,” and warned that the escalation could drag neighbouring states into the violence.

The Vatican has frequently used the weekly Angelus address to comment on international crises, urging diplomacy and humanitarian restraint during periods of conflict.Pope Leo’s remarks come as hostilities involving Iran and regional actors have intensified, raising concerns among international leaders and religious figures about the potential for a broader Middle East crisis.