Pope Leo XIV signaled support on Friday for journalists targeted this week by the White House, adding a new dimension to the monthslong tensions between the pontiff and President Trump. Speaking on a flight between Rome and Paris, Leo told reporters that he was “very happy that, here, you are all welcome.”

He was responding to a question from a CNN reporter about the Trump administration’s attempt this week to restrict White House access to certain outlets, including CNN — a move later blocked by a federal judge. “Good coverage, I think, is very important,” Leo added.

Leo’s comments, ahead of a four-day state visit to France, follow several clashes with Mr. Trump earlier in the year, mainly over Leo’s criticism of the war in Iran. That led Mr. Trump to accuse Leo in April of being “weak on crime” and “catering to the Radical Left.” Leo then said he had “no fear, neither of the Trump administration, nor of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel,” before days later trying to heal the rift by saying that some of his remarks had been misconstrued.

On Friday, Leo avoided further tensions over Iran, ignoring a question on the subject from a reporter on the plane. Since succeeding Pope Francis in May 2025, Leo has generally taken a more unifying approach than his outspoken predecessor. He has won over conservatives with his mild-mannered tone and by being more receptive to traditions like the Latin Mass, a liturgy replaced in the 1960s. But he has also risked Mr. Trump’s ire by speaking in support of migrants, condemning the war in Iran and by criticizing those who invoke Jesus to justify conflict. The latter comment was interpreted as a criticism of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth who used Christian language to justify the war in Iran. Motoko Rich is the Times bureau chief in Rome, where she covers Italy, the Vatican and Greece.