The pope is hip with the times. He’s called on the church to be more accepting of gay, lesbian, and divorced Catholics. He embraces technology, and he has come out against President Donald Trump, calling Trump’s plans to build a wall between the United States and Mexico “disgraceful.” (…And he came out against Trump again regarding climate change and the end of DACA.)
While he’s OK with modern tech and ideologies, though, that doesn’t mean he thinks it always belongs in the church.
On Wednesday, during a regularly scheduled general audience in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, Pope Francis said that Catholics shouldn’t be using their smartphones during mass.
“At some point, the priest during the Mass says, ‘Lift up your hearts,’” Pope Francis said. “He does not say, ‘Lift up your cellphones to take pictures.’” Burn.
The pope’s message wasn’t just for attendees of the general audience or Catholic Church members. It was also directed at some priests and bishops who have a tendency to check their phones during mass.
This isn’t the first time the leader of the Catholic Church has talked about modern society’s fondness for smartphones. Earlier this year, Pope Francis also urged followers to consult the Bible as much as they check their phone. What if, Mr. Pope, people are actually checking their Bible on their phone during mass? There are Bible apps, you know.
In all seriousness, the Pope has a point. Even if you’re attending mass in a beautiful cathedral, you can hold your Instagram horses and take photos either before or after the service begins. And if you want to livestream the thing, well, just strap on a Google Clips camera—maybe the pope hasn’t heard of that yet.
H/T New York Times