Pope Francis urges Catholics to put down technology at the dinner table

Pope Francis urged Catholics on Wednesday to avoid using smartphones and other technological devices at the dinner table.

Mashable reported that Pope Francis told the audiences at the St. Peter's Square in Vatican City to set aside technology when eating meals and talk face-to-face to encourage togetherness and connection, which is very important for a family. The Pope said, "When children at the table are attached to the computer or the phone and don't listen to each other, this is not a family, this is a pensioner!" He may be a fan of technology, but the Pope advocates for talking with the family instead of focusing on smartphones and tablets when at the dinner table.

He said, foods aren't the only things shared during meals, according to a report by the Huffington Post. Affections, events, and stories are also fundamental experiences shared at the dinner table. Eating together measures the health of relationships. A family that has hidden pain or has things they don't agree with, the dinner table is one of the places where they understand each other immediately, the Pope said. This is why he believes that the dinner table should be free from smartphones and other technological devices.

The Independent reported that the Pope said children and parents all over the world are becoming addicted to technological gadgets. He said a family that doesn't eat together or almost does not talk at the dinner table due to television and other technological devices is not a close family.

He encouraged families to engage, talk, and listen to each other during meals and even avoid spending too much on food. He said that people in rich country are prompted to spend too much on excessive nourishment, and then spend too much again to remedy the excess. This is a senseless affair that makes people forget the real hunger of "the body and the soul."