Pope says fake news, disinformation on COVID, is human rights violation

FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis arrives to attend the weekly general audience at the Paul VI Audience Hall, at the Vatican, December 1, 2021. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis said on Friday that spreading fake news and disinformation on COVID-19 and vaccines, including by Catholic media, is a violation of human rights.

It was the second time in less than month that the 85-year-old pope has spoken out on the subject. Three weeks ago, he condemned "baseless" ideological misinformation about vaccines, backing national immunisation campaigns and calling health care a moral obligation..