Rome, Italy - During his first audience with the international press on Monday, new Pope Leo XIV made an appeal for media and press freedom and the search for truth.

"We must say no to the war of words and images. We must reject the paradigm of war," the recently elected pope said in Rome.

He called on the reporters to "strive for a different communication, one that does not seek consensus at all costs, does not use aggressive words, does not follow the culture of competition."

"Peace begins with each one of us in the way we look at others, listen to others, and speak about others. In this sense, the way we communicate is of fundamental importance," Leo added.

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The first-ever US pope was received with cheers and applause from journalists from all over the world when he entered the auditorium.

He then joked in English: "They say when they clap at the beginning, it doesn't matter much. If you are still awake at the end, and you still want to applaud, thank you very much."

Leo reaffirmed the Church's solidarity with media professionals imprisoned worldwide and called for their release.

"The suffering of these imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations and the international community, calling on all of us to safeguard the precious gift of free speech and of the press," he said.

The former cardinal Robert Francis Prevost also commented on technological developments, in particular artificial intelligence, which he said great potential, he said, but requires responsibility and judgment.

On Sunday, Pope Leo called for global peace in front of over 100,000 believers on St Peter's Square, urging an end to devastating wars in Ukraine and Gaza.