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Pope Francis in a selfie from inside St Peter's Basilica with young people on pilgrimage at the Vatican. AP Photo/Riccardo Aguiari
thanks god

Pope Francis says the internet is a gift from God

However the Pope also warned internet users not to isolate themselves from society.

POPE FRANCIS HAS described the internet as “a gift from God” and called on Catholics to “boldly become citizens of the digital world”.

“The internet… offers immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity. This is something truly good, a gift from God,” the Argentine pontiff said in his first World Communication Day message, given annual by the Pope.

“Let us boldly become citizens of the digital world. Let our communication be a balm which relieves pain and a fine wine which gladdens hearts,” he said.

The 77-year-old pontiff is a keen Twitter user whose account has attracted more than 10 million followers.

But he also makes a point of privileging human relationships and physical touch, often walking among the crowds who flock to see him in St. Peter’s Square and embracing the ill or disabled.

“As I have frequently observed, if a choice has to be made between a bruised Church which goes out to the streets and a Church suffering from self-absorption, I certainly prefer the first,” he said.

“Those ‘streets’ are the world where people live and where they can be reached, both effectively and affectively. The digital highway is one of them, a street teeming with people who are often hurting, men and women looking for salvation or hope,” he added.

However, Francis warned people not allow the desire to be connected to the digital world twenty-four hours a day to isolate them from society.

“It is not enough to be passersby on the digital highways, simply ‘connected’. Connections need to grow into true encounters,” he said.

- © AFP, 2014

Read: Obama to meet Pope Francis in first Vatican visit since 2009 >

Read: Pope Francis invites homeless people to breakfast for his birthday >

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