The pontiff said journalists should shun manipulative “snake tactics”

Pope Francis gives a weekly general audience in St Peter's square, on January 24, 2018 in Vatican. / AFP PHOTO / Andreas SOLARO

Pope Francis has condemned fake news as satanic. The pontiff said journalists and social media users should shun and unmask manipulative “snake tactics” that foment division to serve political and economic interests.

“Fake news is a sign of intolerant and hypersensitive attitudes, and leads only to the spread of arrogance and hatred.

That is the end result of untruth,” Francis said in the first document by a pope on the subject.

The document was issued after months of debate on how much fake news may have influenced the 2016 US presidential campaign and President Donald Trump's election.

 “Spreading fake news can serve to advance specific goals, influence political decisions, and serve economic interests,” the pope wrote, condemning the “manipulative use of social networks” and other communication forms.

Called “The truth will set you free - fake news and journalism for peace”, the document was issued in advance of the Catholic Church’s World Day of Social Communications on May 13.

 False stories, the Pope said, spread so quickly even denials often could not contain the damage done.