Even nuns and priests watch pornography, according to Pope Francis.
The 85-year-old Pope said online adult entertainment was a “vice” shared even by members of the Catholic Church.
He said: “I’m not going to say ‘raise your hand if you’ve ever had one.’
“But if each of you thinks that you have had an experience or a temptation… this is a vice that many people have, many laymen, many laywomen, and priests and nuns.
“The devil enters from there. And I’m not only talking about such criminal pornography with violence against children, it’s degeneration.
“But pornography that’s a bit ‘normal’.”
The pontiff condemned digital porn during a convention with seminarians in Rome, Italy, on Monday.
He was asked about how the new generation of online clergy can use social media and other digital tools to “share the joy of Christianity.”
Francis urged the seminarians to use social networks “for promotion, communication”, warning them about the dangers, namely digital pornography.
“The pure heart that Jesus receives every day cannot accept this pornographic information,” he said.
Francis called on the seminarians to “delete it from their phone to have temptation in their hands.”
Despite having 64.3 million Twitter followers himself, Francis said he doesn’t use social media “because I’m too late.”
He has a social media team that handles his accounts, Francis added.
The Catholic Church requires all priests to be celibate, which means they cannot engage in sexual relations or marriage.
This is because priestly celibacy is seen by priests as a way to get rid of worldly desires, such as sex, and dedicate themselves to the church.
Priests and nuns are banned from viewing pornography as it is considered a “crime against chastity” Article 2354 catechism, or doctrine of the Catholic Church.
In late 2020, the Vatican was left reeling after Francis’ official Instagram account revealed that he had liked a photo of a Brazilian model.
The like on Natalia Gariboto’s Instagram page was visible for several days until Vatican officials removed it.
Gariboto joked at the time, “At least I’ll go to heaven.”
OY Co, Garibotto’s management company, said the model had received the “official blessing of the Pope”.
A Vatican spokesman said at the time: “We can rule out that the ‘like’ came from the Holy See, and it has reached out to Instagram for an explanation.”
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Pope admits nuns and priests let the devil in and bash the Bishop