Pope Francis to Young People: Stop Wasting Time on the Internet
Android Wear, perhaps? (Associated Press)
Continuing his reign as the dopest pope to ever grace this holy earth, Pope Francis took a moment on Tuesday to remind everyone to get outside and live a little.
“Maybe many young people waste too many hours on futile things,” he said in a speech to 50,000 German altar servers who were visiting on pilgrimage, according to NBC News. “Our life is made up of time, and time is a gift from God, so it is important that it be used in good and fruitful actions.”
He went on to cite specific online activities, such as “chatting on the Internet or with smartphones, watching TV soap operas, and (using) the products of technological progress, which should simplify and improve the quality of life, but distract attention away from what is really important.”
What was not made clear from the speech is what digital activities the pope does approve of. For instance, is it “fruitful” and “good” to be one of the 4.3 million people who follow the very active papal Twitter account? Are selfies OK when we’re taking them with the Holy Father himself? What about peeping into Vatican City via the The Pope App’s sick webcam feature?
Previously, Pope Francis described the Internet as a “gift from God.” Perhaps that’s the case only when you’re interacting with his branded Pope™ digital presence, and not, say, the Internet’s baser offerings.
[Via NBC]
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