Pope Francis Admits Priests and Nuns Watch Internet Porn, Says 'Be Careful' as 'Devil Enters' Through It

Pope Francis has admitted that even nuns and priests watch internet porn. The revelation came while he was speaking with seminarians in Rome on Monday.

Daily Mail reported that Pope Francis said internet porn was a "vice" shared between church members. The 85-year-old pope noted that many people, even priests and nuns, have this "vice."

Pope Francis then blamed it on the devil, saying that "the devil gets in that way." He said he was not only talking about criminal pornography that involved the abuse of children but internet porn "that is a little normal."

The pope then cautioned priests and nuns to "be careful about this," saying it "weakens the priestly heart."

Pope Francis also encouraged fellow Catholics to delete pornographic materials from their phones so "they won't have the temptation in hand." Church teaching sees pornography or sexual imagery as an offense against chastity.

Pope Francis on Internet Porn

Pope Francis noted that pornography "weakens the soul," and makes room for the devil to enter, USA Today reported.

The pope said social media and other parts of the digital world today are signs of progress that can help people reach out to one another. However, he noted that "it's not my world."

Pope Francis said that the convenience and usefulness of social media also come with dangers and distractions, citing music as an example that gets in the way of work.

According to BBC, the pope noted that the pure heart, "the one that receives Jesus every day, cannot receive this pornographic information."

The Vatican has repeatedly warned parishioners about the spread of pornography in the media, including in movies, books, magazines, and television.

The Vatican said in a May 1989 memo that people who watch pornography may likely exhibit the attitudes and behavior from porn in real life.

The Vatican added that even "soft core" internet porn can "desensitize people."

The Vatican on Internet Porn

The Vatican said in the May 1989 memo that the profit motive is one of the major causes that contribute to the escalation of porn and violence in the media.

It also cited freedom of expression as one of the main causes of the spread of pornography. It became an excuse for tolerating pornography "even at the cost of the moral welfare of the young."

The church noted that public responsibility for promoting the welfare of the young, fostering respect for women, and protecting the privacy and public decency indicates that "liberty cannot be equated with license."

The Vatican called on parents, educators, young people, authorities, religious groups, and other organizations to curb pornography's influence by telling companies, producers, and public officials how they feel about sexual content.

In 2020, the Instagram account of Pope Francis appeared to have liked a racy photo of a Brazilian bikini model wearing stockings and suspenders.

The model, Natalie Garibotto, said the pope's verified account was among the thousands that liked her October 5 image.

However, the account immediately "unliked" the photo before the Vatican said it was launching an inquiry.

Garibotto joked about the incident and said at least she was "going to heaven."

The agency managing the Brazilian model said Garibotto "received the pope's official blessing." A team manages the social media accounts of Pope Francis.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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