'Media coverage is important': Pope Leo backs press freedom amid Trump-US news outlets clash

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.Pope Leo XIV apologises to pressLeo has repeatedly ...