'Devil gets in that way': Pope Francis warns against growing porn 'vice' among priests and nuns
ROME, ITALY: Pope Francis has admitted that priests and nuns do consume pornography. Addressing the seminarians on Monday in Rome, the Pope warned against the practice, calling it a 'vice' that members of the church and many others have fallen to. He emphasized that he was not just talking about the criminal side of internet pornography that includes children but also what is otherwise considered 'normal'.
"Dear brothers, be careful about this," he cautioned the priests and nuns during his speech. Pornography that leads to sexual imagery is considered an 'offense against chastity' for Catholic priests and nuns, according to Catechism article 2354.
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"It is a vice that many people have, many laymen, many laywomen, and also priests and nuns. The Devil gets in that way. And I'm not just talking about criminal pornography like that involving the abuse of children, that is already degeneration. But pornography that is a little 'normal'. Dear brothers, be careful about this," said the Pope, according to ANSA. He added that it "weakens the priestly heart," as reported by Times Now.
The pope's warning came as a response to a question about how social media and the internet should be. He said that he believes the internet should be used when needed and not when one wishes to spend some time there. "Delete this from your phone, so you will not have temptation in hand. The pure heart, the one that Jesus receives every day, cannot receive this pornographic information," he added.
Pope Francis had previously spoken about how abstinence from sex before marriage is considered 'true love'. Before that, he also addressed couples who prefer to have pets instead of babies. He said prospective parents should not be "afraid of parenthood." "Having a child is always a risk, but there is more risk in not having a child," as having a pet instead of children "takes away our humanity," he said, adding that it is a "selfish" decision.
Regardless of the Pope's views, in 2020, his Instagram account seemingly 'liked' a suggestive picture of the Brazillian bikini model Natalie Garibotto. The racy image, posted on October 5, 2020, showed the model wearing stockings and suspenders. Speaking of the Pope's like, Natalie joked, "At least I'm going to heaven," while her management said that Natalie had received "the Pope's official blessing." However, the picture was later unliked before the Vatican could launch an inquiry. The Pope does not personally manage his social media accounts.