Pope Francis waves to the crowds as he arrives in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican City for his weekly audience. (Franco Origlia / Getty Images)
ROME — It may sometimes be a breeding ground for pornographers, bullies and hateful extremists, but the Internet received an official blessing Thursday from Pope Francis, who called it a “gift from God.”
“The digital world can be an environment rich in humanity, a network not of wires but of people,” said Francis, adding: “The Internet, in particular, offers immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity. This is something truly good, a gift from God.”
Tom Kington reports for the LA Times on the Pope’s statements on the benefits and drawbacks of the wired world.