Pope Francis says families should put away phones and talk at meal times

Leader cited Jesus, Mary and Joseph as an example for families to follow

Pope Francis has called for people to talk to each other at mealtimes instead of using their mobile phones.

Speaking at midday angelus prayers in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, the 83-year-old cited Jesus, Mary and Joseph as examples for modern families to follow and praised them for “praying, working and communicating with each other”.

The Pope, who uses social media to help spread the message of the gospel, called upon people to connect with those around them in a bid to achieve a more rewarding family life.

“I ask myself if you, in your family, know how to communicate or are you like those kids at meal tables where everyone is chatting on their mobile phone?” he asked.

“At that table there is the kind of silence that you might find at mass. But they don’t communicate with one another.”

Pope Francis added: “We must resume dialogue in the family: fathers, parents, children, grandparents and siblings must communicate with one another.

“This is a task to undertake today, on the day of the Holy Family.”

Pope Francis called on families to communicate with each other during midday prayers in St Peter’s Square (Getty)

This is not the first time the Pope – who has more than 18 million Twitter followers – has criticised people for spending too much time on smartphones, especially during mass.

Earlier this year the religious leader told students at Rome’s Visconti High School: “Phones are for connecting – life is for communicating. Free yourself from the addiction... when you become a slave to your mobile phone, you will lose your freedom.”

Similarly in 2017, Pope Francis said: “At a certain point the priest leading the ceremony says ‘lift up our hearts’. He doesn’t say ‘lift up our mobile phones to take photographs’ – it’s a very ugly thing.

“It’s so sad when I’m celebrating mass here or inside the basilica and I see lots of phones held up – not just by the faithful, but also by priests and bishops! Please!”