Pope Francis: It's a sin to spread fake news

Pope Francis compared media outlets that spread disinformation and cover scandals to smear politicians to people who become aroused by excrement. 

In an interview with the Belgian Catholic weekly "Tertio," Francis said scandal-mongering media outlets risk falling prey to coprophilia, or arousal from excrement, and the consumers risk coprophagia, or eating excrement. 

"I think the media have to be very clear, very transparent, and not fall into — no offense intended — the sickness of coprophilia, that is, always wanting to cover scandals, covering nasty things, even if they are true," he said, according to Reuters. 

"And since people have a tendency towards the sickness of coprophagia, a lot of damage can be done."

The pope also warned that spreading disinformation is "probably the greatest damage that the media can do" because "it directs opinion in only one direction and omits the other part of the truth."

Many have argued that spurious "fake news" circulated on Facebook and rumor websites helped President-elect Donald TrumpDonald TrumpDems push for panel to probe Russian interference in election Ukrainian company to Trump: We’ll build Air Force One Trump is playing a risky political game with China and Russia MORE defeat Democrat Hillary ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonDems push for panel to probe Russian interference in election Our desperate need to save US democracy from ourselves MSNBC hosting Sanders town hall in Wis. MORE in November's presidential election. 

More established media outlets have also faced widespread criticism for their coverage of Trump's campaign.