Pope says inter-personal relationship is threatened by social media

dimeji akinloye

June 18, 2015 6:05 PM

The encyclical, entitled "Praised Be" was mainly centered on environment and consumerism.

The head of the Cathlolic church, Pope Francis has berated the excessive use of social media networks and digital media, saying it has replaced "real relationships with others."

He said this in Vatican city on Thursday, June 18, in an encyclical publication.

The encyclical, entitled "Praised Be" was mainly centered environment and consumerism.

The 78 year-old spiritual leader, said that real relationships with others now tend to be replaced by internet communication, which makes it possible to choose or eliminate relationships at whim.

He said this has given rise to a new type of contrived emotion, which has more to do with devices and displays than with other people and with nature.

"True wisdom, as the fruit of self-examination, dialogue and generous encounter between persons, is not acquired by a mere accumulation of data which leads to overload and confusion, a sort of mental pollution,” he wrote.

Francis acknowledged the exciting possibilities of digital devices.

He decried deep and melancholic dissatisfaction with interpersonal relations or a harmful sense of isolation that occurred from over dependence on such devices.

Francis said it is positive that modern media allow people to communicate and share knowledge and affections.

dimeji akinloye