Pope: Teens need to stop looking for happiness on their phones

‘Even the latest version [of an app] cannot help you to grow and become free in love,’ the pope told a gathering of young people

Pope Francis waves to journalists as he boards an plane at Rome's Fiumicino airport, on his way to the Greek island of Lesbos (AFP/Getty Images)

The Pope has warned teens to stop looking for happiness on their phones.

People will never be able to feel real joy because of apps, he told a mass being held as part of a weekend at the Vatican City that celebrated youth.

Tens of thousands of teenagers went to Rome as part of the weekend, which saw a range of events held as part of Francis’s Jubilee year.

And he warned all of them that they should stop looking at their phones to find happiness.

"Your happiness has no price. It cannot be bought and sold: it is not an application you download on a mobile phone. Even the latest version cannot help you to grow and become free in love."

The Pope has never been averse to apps or technology in general, and he has feeds on Twitter, Instagram and other social networks where he shares news in a range of different languages. But none of those could make him truly happy, he suggested.

The comments came as part of a longer speech during which Francis cautioned people against looking for happiness in belongings.

"Freedom is not always about doing what you want,” he said. “In fact it is the gift of being able to choose the right way.”

Francis also said that life without Jesus was like not having a phone signal, during the speech in which he held an iPhone.

"Always be sure to go where there is a network: family, parish, school," he said.