VATICAN CITY. Pope Francis emphasized that “sexual pleasure is a gift from God,” urging Catholics to appreciate this aspect of human existence while cautioning against the pitfalls of pornography. The pontiff addressed the issue during a catechesis dedicated to the “vice of lust” at his general audience in Saint Peter’s Square on Wednesday.
In his remarks, Pope Francis acknowledged the sanctity of sexual pleasure but expressed concern about its degradation due to the prevalence of pornography. He noted that “satisfaction without a relationship can generate forms of addiction,” highlighting the importance of cherishing love and maintaining meaningful connections.
“We must defend love,” declared the pope, acknowledging that triumphing over the challenges posed by lust can be a lifelong endeavor. The statement seemed to be a response to recent controversies involving sexually explicit content authored decades ago by the Vatican’s head of doctrine, Víctor Manuel Fernández.
Conservative critics were stirred last week when a book featuring explicit content written by Fernández resurfaced. The Argentinian cardinal, a close associate of Pope Francis, is known for his past work with sexually charged themes. Responding to the recent scandal, Fernández stated, “I would certainly not write [that] now,” distancing himself from his earlier writings.
In 2022, Pope Francis warned against the perils of digital pornography during a discussion with seminarians about the dangers of social media. Acknowledging the prevalence of the issue, he remarked, “It is a vice that so many people have. So many laymen, so many laywomen, and also priests and nuns. The devil enters from there.”
The pope’s stance on the matter aligns with his previous efforts to address challenges posed by modern technology and its impact on morality. In late 2020, the Vatican found itself in an awkward situation when Pope Francis’s official Instagram account “liked” a photo of the Brazilian model Natalia Garibotto. The Vatican clarified that the “like” was not from the Holy See, prompting an inquiry into the incident.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
