Pope Leo XIV declines to comment on jailed Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai, reaffirms support for press freedom and global peace at Castel Gandolfo.
Newsroom (04/03/2026 Gaudium Press ) Pope Leo XIV declined to comment on the imprisonment of Jimmy Lai, the Catholic founder of Hong Kong’s shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, during an informal exchange with reporters on Tuesday outside the papal villa at Castel Gandolfo.
“I cannot comment,” the pope told EWTN News, responding to a question about the 76-year-old publisher, who was sentenced on February 9 to 20 years in prison under China’s national security law. Lai’s supporters have denounced the punishment as a politically motivated show trial aimed at silencing dissent in Hong Kong’s once-vibrant media landscape.
Leo’s brief remark marked the first time he has publicly faced a question about Lai’s case since the publisher’s conviction in December. Although he has refrained from direct reference to Lai, the pontiff has repeatedly championed the protection of journalists and the moral obligation of societies to guard press freedom.
“The Church recognizes in these witnesses — I am thinking of those who report on war even at the cost of their lives — the courage of those who defend dignity, justice, and the right of people to be informed, because only informed individuals can make free choices,” the pope said in earlier remarks. “The suffering of these imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations and the international community, calling on all of us to safeguard the precious gift of free speech and of the press.”
The Vatican maintains a delicate diplomatic relationship with Beijing, including a provisional 2018 agreement on the appointment of bishops that has drawn quiet controversy within the Church. Analysts say this relationship continues to constrain the Holy See’s ability to speak openly about human rights violations in China.
In October 2025, Pope Leo privately met with Lai’s wife and daughter at the Vatican, a meeting described by those present as deeply personal but intentionally low-profile. The encounter took place amid growing international pressure on governments and institutions to intervene in Lai’s case. Former U.S. President Donald Trump pledged last year to do “everything” to “save” the imprisoned publisher.
A Call for Peace Amid Global Tensions
After addressing the question of Lai, the pope pivoted toward a broader message of peace and reconciliation. Standing before the manicured gardens of Castel Gandolfo, 15 miles southeast of Rome, Leo urged the faithful and world leaders alike to replace hatred with understanding.
“Let’s pray for less hatred and more peace. And work for authentic dialogue,” he told reporters before returning to the Vatican.
Pope Leo’s appearance marked his first press exchange in more than two months. Since the start of his papacy, Leo has adopted the custom of spending Tuesdays at the summer residence, occasionally meeting informally with journalists at the conclusion of his stays.
Despite the brevity of his comments, the pope’s call resonated with Vatican observers, who see in his restraint a consistent pattern of diplomacy — balancing moral witness with the Church’s fragile geopolitical relationships.
As the fate of Jimmy Lai continues to stir controversy among Catholics and advocates of free expression, Pope Leo XIV’s silence underscores not indifference but the Vatican’s enduring struggle to navigate faith, diplomacy, and conscience on the global stage.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA
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