Pope Leo XIV urges writers to share truth at Vatican publishing centenary

Pope Leo XIV met with a group of authors from around the world in the Vatican to mark the 100‑year anniversary of the Libreria Editrice Vaticana. In his address he emphasized that “truth is not a territory to defend but a good that must be shared,” and described writing as “an act of truth and revelation” that ultimately leads to God.

He highlighted literature’s capacity to foster empathy, solidarity and a deeper understanding of suffering, urging writers to continue using narrative creativity to promote peace and human connection. Leo also warned that artificial‑intelligence technologies pose a threat to authentic literary expression, calling on authors to preserve the freedom of human‑driven writing.

The event, held in the Pope’s audience hall, underscored the Vatican’s longstanding commitment to the cultural and spiritual value of the written word.