Pope Francis has told young people not to waste their lives on “futile” distractions such as chatting on the Internet or on smartphones.
Speaking to 50,000 German altar servers in St Peter’s Square on August 5, the Pope was asked by one of the young people how to make time for assisting at Mass.
Francis said the excessive use of the Internet and social media distracted them from what was really important.
“Maybe many young people waste too many hours on futile things, chatting on the Internet or with smart phones, watching TV soap operas, and [using] the products of technological progress, which should simplify and improve the quality of life, but which distract one’s attention away from what is really important,” he said.
Acknowledging that young people are often torn between many different commitments including school and church, he advised: “You need to organise your lives a little, plan things in a balanced way.”
“But you are German, this comes naturally to you,” the Pope quipped