Pope Francis in an encyclical published on Thursday in Vatican City, criticised the excessive use of social networks and digital media.
The encyclical, entitled: “Praised Be,” mainly dealt with environment and consumerism.
The 78-year-old spiritual leader said that real relationships with others now tend to be replaced by internet communication, which makes it possible to choose or eliminate relationships at whim.
He said this has given rise to a new type of contrived emotion, which has more to do with devices and displays than with other people and with nature.
“True wisdom, as the fruit of self-examination, dialogue and generous encounter between persons, is not acquired by a mere accumulation of data which leads to overload and confusion, a sort of mental pollution,” he wrote.
Francis acknowledged the exciting possibilities of digital devices.
He decried deep and melancholic dissatisfaction with interpersonal relations or a harmful sense of isolation that occurred from over dependence on such devices.
Francis said it was positive that modern media allow people to communicate and share knowledge and affections.
dpa/NAN.
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