By Ambassador Media | May 13, 2025
Vatican City — In a powerful first public audience with global media on May 12, 2025, newly elected Pope Leo XIV made an emphatic appeal for the release of journalists imprisoned around the world for doing their job: “seeking and reporting the truth.”
The Pope, addressing hundreds of international reporters and media organizations, declared, “Truth is not a crime. Journalism is not treason. Those who are imprisoned for reporting the truth must be freed.” His words have sparked global discussion—and hold particular weight for Ethiopia, a country where press freedom remains severely restricted.
A Painful Truth for Ethiopian Journalists
While the Pope’s message was universal, it echoes loudly in Ethiopia, where press freedoms have deteriorated in recent years. Independent media, especially outlets critical of government actions, have faced harassment, arbitrary detention, and forced closures.
Ambassador Media knows this reality all too well.
Our newsroom has been targeted multiple times by Ethiopian government forces. Journalists affiliated with Ambassador Media have been surveilled, intimidated, and, in some cases, detained without formal charges. Equipment has been confiscated and reporting disrupted. We continue to publish under intense pressure—because truth is our mission, and our duty to the public cannot be silenced.
Ethiopia’s Shrinking Media Space
Although Ethiopia’s 2018 reforms briefly sparked hope for press freedom, that progress has been undone. The ongoing civil conflict and political instability have made journalism increasingly dangerous. Anti-terrorism and hate speech laws are frequently used to silence dissent. Media houses critical of the state are branded as enemies of peace.
Local and international organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), have raised alarms over Ethiopia’s jailing of reporters. According to CPJ’s 2024 report, Ethiopia remains among the top jailers of journalists in Africa.
The Pope’s Words Are a Lifeline
Pope Leo XIV’s declaration shines a spotlight on the global erosion of media freedom and offers moral support to embattled journalists everywhere. For Ethiopian reporters and outlets like Ambassador Media, his words serve as both comfort and call to action.
We urge the Ethiopian government to heed the Pope’s appeal—to uphold constitutional rights, free jailed journalists, and allow the press to operate without fear or restriction.
As the Pope reminded the world: “The truth does not need permission to exist. It needs courage to be spoken.”
Ambassador Media stands in that truth. We stand for press freedom. And we will not be silenced.
