Pope Francis meets family of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

He grants an audience to the wife of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks who is behind bars in Britain

Pope Francis attends the Mass of Saint Peter and Paul in St Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican Jun 29, 2023. REUTERS

Pope Francis on Friday granted an audience to the wife of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks who is behind bars in Britain and battling extradition to the United States.

"The Holy Father has received in audience Mrs Stella Assange, with family members," a Vatican statement said, with no further details.

Stella Assange is fronting the campaign to have her husband freed, but the Vatican did not say if this was discussed in the meeting or if Francis expressed any support for it.

A Vatican spokesman said papal audiences are private affairs.

Assange is wanted in the US over the release of confidential US military records and diplomatic cables in 2010. His supporters see his prosecution as a politically motivated assault on journalism and free speech.

Washington says the release of the documents had put lives in danger.