STORY: :: Pope Leo jokes at his first meeting with journalists that he hopes they will stay awake:: Vatican City:: May 12, 2025"Good morning, and thank you for this wonderful reception. They say when they clap at the beginning, it doesn't matter much. If you're still awake at the end and you still want to applaud, thank you very much."In his subsequent speech, Leo called on journalists to help bring an end to a polarising “war of words” made of partisan and ideological attacks and not give space to fanaticism and hatred.Speaking to thousands of members of the media from around the world who covered his election and the death of his predecessor, Leo also called for the release of reporters jailed for doing their jobs.He added artificial intelligence had to be used with “responsibility and discernment”.