The Pope Francisco warned that pornography on-line, and not only criminal, is “a vice” present in many people, including “priests and nuns”. His statements occurred during the meeting he held this Monday with seminarians from Rome and from which reported the Vatican.
“It is a vice that has so many people, so many lay people, and also priests and nuns. The devil enters through there. And I’m not talking about criminal pornography like child abuse, where you see live cases of abuse: that’s already a degeneration, but rather normal pornography. Dear brothers, be careful with that”, he commented to the future priests.
We must not be afraid of feeling moments of sadness and desolation, but we must trust in the Lord and be sure that he never abandons us. With Him by our side, we can overcome any temptation. #GeneralAudience
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex_es) October 26, 2022
The Argentine pontiff also told them that “the pure heart, the one who receives Jesus every day, cannot receive this pornography” and recommended that if they have porn on their mobile phone they delete it so that “they do not have temptation at hand”.
“And if you can’t erase it, defend yourself well so you don’t get into this. I tell you it weakens the soul. It weakens the soul,” added the pope, who apologized for going into “so much detail about pornography,” but that it is a “reality that touches priests, seminarians, nuns, consecrated souls, and this is important.”
In addition, he referred to the fact of caressing children, sick children, despite the fact that they can accuse him of pedophilia. “Caress the children… Someone can accuse you of being a pederast, but no, no, get this possible accusation out of your head,” the pope said, adding that “the elderly also need caresses.”
Jorge Bergoglio also warned the seminarians of the danger of “careerism” because, he said, “a careerist is a traitor, he is not a servant.”
And responding to a Ukrainian priest, he assured that “the Church, like a mother, suffers in the face of wars because wars are the destruction of children.”
“You suffer so much, your people, I know, I am close. But pray for the aggressors, because they are more victims like you. You do not see the wounds they have in their souls, but pray, pray so that the Lord converts them and wants peace to come,” Francis told the Ukrainian priest.
Efe/OnCuba.
