Listen up, Catholics! Pope Francis wants everyone to stop acting like a jerk for Lent.
Most Catholics give up something like candy or soda for Lent. But this year, Pope Francis is shaking things up and asking people to stop being so mean on the internet.
On Ash Wednesday, the pope made his annual appeal in St. Peter’s Square kicking off the start of the 40-day season that leads up to Easter. “Lent is a time to give up useless words, gossip, rumors, tittle-tattle and speak to God on a first name basis,” he said.
“We live in an atmosphere polluted by too much verbal violence, too many offensive and harmful words, which are amplified by the internet.”
The pope also encouraged Catholics to turn off smart phones and television and open up a Bible.
So what do you think? Can you give up being a jerk on the internet?
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