Pope Francis halts mass to tell bishops and priests to put away their phones
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Pope Francis halts mass to tell bishops and priests to put away their phones

NOW, this is something you don't expect to hear in mass.

Pope Francis chastised members of the Catholic church while delivering mass at his weekly audience in St Peter's Square in Rome, for having their mobile phones out and taking pictures.

The Pope expressed his disappointment at the use of phones by members of the church during the sacred practice, and said that mass was a time for prayer, not an opportunity to get your phone out.

"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," he said.

"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!

Despite having over 14 million followers on Twitter and allowing selfies with enthusiastic young pilgrims, the pontiff is rumored to have not used a mobile phone in public since his election and once asked young people to carry Bibles instead of phones.