Background and Relevance of Julian Assange
Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, was present at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, as confirmed by AFP journalists.
The Australian, accompanied by his wife Stella Assange and their two children, blended in with the crowd near the upper part of Via della Conciliazione, the wide avenue leading to St. Peter’s Square, which was packed for the funeral.
Assange’s Release and Relationship with Pope Francis
Assange was released in 2024 under an agreement with the US justice system, pleading guilty to obtaining and disclosing confidential information.
He spent 14 years confined between Ecuador’s London embassy and the Belmarsh prison in the UK.
“Now Julian is free, we all came to Rome to express our family’s gratitude for the Papa’s support during Julian’s persecution,” Stella Assange posted on X.
Stella recalled, “In June 2023, our children and I had the honor of meeting Pope Francis to discuss how to free Julian from Belmarsh prison.”
“Francis wrote to Julian in prison and even proposed granting him asylum in the Vatican,” she added.
Wikileaks and Controversy
The content published on the Wikileaks website included sharp descriptions of foreign leaders by the US State Department, reports of extrajudicial executions, and gathered information against allies.
His supporters hail him as a champion of free speech, claiming he was unjustly pursued and imprisoned by authorities.
On the other hand, his detractors view him as a reckless blogger whose uncensored publication of highly sensitive documents put lives at risk and compromised US security.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Julian Assange? Julian Assange is the Australian founder of Wikileaks, an organization known for publishing classified and sensitive documents.
- Why is Assange relevant? Assange gained international attention for Wikileaks’ publication of confidential documents, sparking debates on transparency, free speech, and government accountability.
- What was the nature of Assange’s relationship with Pope Francis? Pope Francis reportedly supported Assange during his persecution and even proposed granting him asylum in the Vatican.
- What is Wikileaks and what controversy surrounds it? Wikileaks is a platform for leaking confidential information. Critics argue that its uncensored publication of sensitive documents endangers lives and national security, while supporters view it as a tool for promoting transparency.
