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Pope Francis denounced “fake news�� as evil on Wednesday, taking time to urge journalists to put seeking the truth above all else. In a series of tweets, the pope said, “There is no such thing as harmless disinformation; trusting in falsehood can have dire consequences. The most radical antidote to the virus of falsehood is purification by the truth.�� Then he emphasized the importance of journalism saying, “I would like to invite everyone to promote a journalism of peace, a journalism created by people for people.�� The Vatican said the statement was part of the 2018 World Communications Day, which falls on May 13, 2018, message. For this year, the theme of the annual day would be “The truth will set you free. Fake news and journalism for peace.�� READ THE POPE’S FULL MESSAGE HEREIn the message, the pope explores the idea of what defines fake news saying that it can be disguised as everyday information laced with misinformation that appeals “to stereotypes and common social prejudices.�� He also said that through these tactics, those spreading fake news can tap into certain fears or anxieties of the public to better get their message across. “The ability to spread such fake news often relies on a manipulative use of the social networks and the way they function,�� he writes. “Untrue stories can spread so quickly that even authoritative denials fail to contain the damage.�� Other issues surrounding the theme of fake news include using “homogeneous digital environments,�� said the pope. According to him, sticking to websites or social media sites that cater specifically to your personal beliefs could hinder constructive conversations with those that could have differing opinions. Instead, he said, this one-sided method of gathering information could lead to judging each other’s perspectives and ultimately some form of closed-mindedness. To take down fake news, writes the pope, everyone must do their part to recognize it and expose it. Preventing fake news could be just as problematic as unmasking what the pope called “snake-tactics.�� What the pope is referring to is the creature in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Bible. In the story, the snake tricks Adam and Eve into disobeying God by sneakily convincing them it is the right thing to do. He relates the story to his message saying, “Even a seemingly slight distortion of the truth can have dangerous effects.�� The pope wraps up the message emphasizing that encouraging and promoting a “journalism of peace�� is the only way to rectify the situation. “A journalism committed to pointing out alternatives to the escalation of shouting matches and verbal violence,�� he writes.