‘Fake news’ attacked by Francis in call for truth

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has denounced “fake news” as evil and wants journalists to make it their mission to search for truth.

After a week in which Francis faced unprecedented bad press during his South American tour, the pope released his annual social communications message on Wednesday, dedicated this year to “fake news and journalism for peace.”

Francis wrote that the first fake news dates from the Biblical beginning of time, when Eve was tempted to take an apple from the Garden of Eden based on disinformation from the serpent. “The strategy of this skilled ‘Father of Lies’ is precisely mimicry, that sly and dangerous form of seduction that worms its way into the heart with false and alluring arguments,” Francis said of the snake.

In today’s information age, he called for a shared commitment to rediscovering the “dignity of journalism” and for reporters to speak the truth with a journalism that is “truthful and opposed to falsehoods, rhetorical slogans, and sensational headlines.”

The message made no reference to how some public figures — most notably U.S. President Donald Trump — often label unflattering or critical reports “fake news” to try to discredit the information.

Since becoming pope, Francis has learned to use the media to get his message across, but he still frequently complains about what he considers one-sided reporting and what he has dubbed the “sins of the media.”

During his recent trip to Chile and Peru, Francis faced the worst protests of his five-year papacy, as well as the worst press. He faced criticism for having appointed a bishop accused of being complicit in covering up for Chile’s most notorious pedophile priest, then was criticized in the Chilean media for having accused those victims of “slander.”