Pope Leo XIV released his comments on the issues of alcohol, drugs, gambling and pornography.
In a video circulating online, the pope stated, “In recent times, addictions such as drugs, alcohol, which continue to be the prevalent ones, have been joined by new forms as the increasing use of the Internet, computers and smartphones is associated not only with clear benefits, but also with overuse…”
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Leo then noted that these issues, even if they do not start as an addiction, do indeed prove to lead to poor health consequences. “…often results in addictions with negative health consequences which have to do with compulsive gambling and betting, with pornography, the almost constant presence on platforms of the digital world,” Leo noted.
The pope then stated that there is more to addiction than what meets the surface. Instead, addiction is a sign of an inner battle happening within a person. “And the object of addiction becomes an obsession, conditioning behavior and daily life. These phenomena, more often than not, are the symptom of a mental or inner malaise of the individual and a social decay of values and positive examples,” he said.
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As we navigate a world increasingly consumed by distraction and temptation, we must anchor ourselves in prayer, seek God’s guidance and walk in the freedom and healing He offers, standing as lights in a culture at risk of moral decay.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.
