Pope Urges Italian Intelligence Services Not to Smear Journalists or Politicians

December 12, 2025 – Italy –

Pope Francis has issued a rare and pointed warning to Italy’s intelligence services, urging them to uphold ethical standards and refrain from using secret information to damage journalists, politicians, or public institutions. His remarks came during a private audience at the Vatican with senior members of Italy’s intelligence community, where he emphasized the moral responsibilities that accompany covert power.

According to reports, the pope told intelligence officials that secrecy must never be abused to manipulate public opinion or discredit individuals. He cautioned against the misuse of confidential information, stressing that intelligence work should serve the common good rather than political interests or personal agendas. Journalists, he noted, play a vital role in democratic societies and must not become targets of surveillance, smear campaigns, or intimidation.

Francis framed his message within a broader appeal for integrity and accountability, reminding officials that intelligence agencies operate under significant public trust. He warned that when secrecy is used to harm reputations or silence criticism, it undermines democratic values and corrodes institutions from within. The pope also urged agents to resist the temptation to justify unethical actions in the name of security.

In separate remarks reported by international media, Francis extended his warning to include the protection of the Church itself, telling intelligence officials not to weaponize sensitive information in ways that could damage religious institutions or exploit internal vulnerabilities. He emphasized that truth and justice must guide intelligence work, even when operating in morally complex environments.

The comments come amid growing global concern over surveillance practices, disinformation, and the targeting of journalists through intelligence leaks or digital monitoring. Press-freedom advocates have long warned that intelligence agencies, when insufficiently checked, can become tools for political pressure against the media. The pope’s intervention was welcomed by media-rights groups as an important moral stance from a global figure.

Italian officials described the meeting as cordial and reflective, noting that Francis acknowledged the difficult and often unseen nature of intelligence work. At the same time, his message made clear that ethical boundaries must not be crossed, regardless of operational pressures.

Observers say the pope’s remarks resonate beyond Italy, speaking to a wider international debate about state power, secrecy, and the protection of free expression. By explicitly naming journalists and politicians as groups that should not be harmed by intelligence practices, Francis reinforced the principle that security and democracy are not opposing forces, but responsibilities that must be balanced with transparency, restraint, and respect for human dignity.

Reference – 

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/pope-meets-italian-secret-agents-urges-ethical-128346704

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/12/dont-use-secrets-to-harm-the-church-pope-tells-spies/

https://www.asiaone.com/world/pope-tells-italian-spies-not-smear-politicians-or-journalists