By Devin Watkins
As misinformation continues to swirl regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, Pope Francis is calling on journalists, especially Catholic media professionals, to verify the facts they report while adopting a respectful attitude toward those who produce and consume fake news.
Meeting with members of the International Catholic Media Consortium on Friday, the Pope reflected on the theme of communications and truth.
The consortium—run up by Aleteia and I Media, two news websites, and Verificat, a fact-checking agency—set up the “Catholic FactChecking” website in early 2021.
Unmasking fake news
Pope Francis lauded the organization’s goal of seeking to unmask “fake news and partial or misleading information” about Covid-19 vaccines and ethical questions related to them.
The group includes a scientific committee that draws upon the work of experts in epidemiology, theology, and bioethics.
The Pope noted that people are increasingly influenced by mass media and that reporters must therefore employ a rigorous method.
