Pope Leo Blasts “Clickbait Culture,” Says Online Media Can Go Straight to Hell

Pope Leo XIV didn’t mince words this week — and his message to modern media was downright fiery.

Speaking to a room packed with reporters at the Vatican on Thursday, the 77-year-old pontiff slammed what he called the “degrading practice” of clickbait — the kind of flashy, sensational headlines designed to grab eyeballs online.

“Communication must be freed from the misguided thinking that corrupts it,” the pope declared to about 150 members of MINDS International, a global network of news agencies. “From unfair competition and the degrading practice of so-called clickbait.”

The bold statement — “clickbait can go straight to hell,” as he bluntly put it — drew nervous laughter from the crowd and quickly began circulating online (ironically, under some pretty clicky headlines).

While Pope Leo took aim at cheap internet journalism tactics, he also praised the brave reporters covering real crises around the world, from Gaza to Ukraine.

“Free access to information is a pillar that upholds the edifice of our societies,” he said. “The media has a crucial role in forming consciences and helping critical thinking.”

Since becoming pope earlier this year, Leo XIV has made journalism one of his unexpected focus points, calling it “a public good that we all should protect.”

Guess we can officially add “media critic” to the Holy Father’s ever-growing résumé.