CASTEL GANDOLFO, ITALY — Pope Leo XIV told EWTN News he "cannot comment" on Jimmy Lai, the Catholic founder and publisher of the outspoken pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily, who was sentenced Feb. 9 on charges Chinese authorities say violate national security laws.
The sentence came after his conviction in December, a case his supporters have denounced as a politically driven show trial.
Pope Leo XIV met with Lai's wife and daughter before the sentencing in October 2025. The pope has not talked about Lai directly but has spoken about imprisoned journalists and the importance of press freedom.
"The Church recognizes in these witnesses — I am thinking of those who report on war even at the cost of their lives — the courage of those who defend dignity, justice, and the right of people to be informed, because only informed individuals can make free choices," he said. "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."
The Vatican maintains a delicate relationship with the government of the People's Republic of China including a provisional agreement regarding the appointment of bishops.
Last year U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to do "everything" to "save" the Lai.
Call for peace
The pope also renewed a call for peace and disarmament in remarks outside the papal villa of Castel Gandolfo, 15 miles southeast of Rome, before returning to the Vatican.
"Let's pray for less hatred and more peace. And work for authentic dialogue," he said.
Leo has made it his custom to spend Tuesdays at the country residence and has occasionally taken questions from reporters at the end of his stay. This was the Leo's first such exchange with the press since Dec. 23.
