Pope Leo delivers fiery defense of freedom of the press, supports Peru journalists

LIMA, Peru – In a message of support sent to journalists in Peru who have faced backlash and judicial harassment for their reporting on a now-suppressed lay group, Pope Leo XIV hailed freedom of the press as key to justice, and to a functional democracy.

His message was read aloud to attendees of a showing of the Proyecto Ugaz, or Ugaz Project, a theatrical work that chronicles the story of Peruvian journalist Paola Ugaz, styling her as a heroine who has faced incredible attacks from the group the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV)...