The Pope thinks we should stop chasing Facebook likes

The Pope's American visit is drawing to an end with a Mass in Philadelphia attended by more than 1.5 million people.

But as he prepares to leave the US after a whirlwind six-day tour, he had some words of advice for the social media generation.

Pope Francis, who has more than 7.4 million followers on his English language Twitter account (and a bit fewer on his Latin one), said, "I would dare say that at the root of so many contemporary situations is a kind of radical loneliness that so many people live in today. Running after the latest fad, a like, accumulating followers on any of the social networks."

Addressing an audience of American bishops at the St Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, he added, "Today consumerism determines what is important, consuming relationships, consuming friendships, consuming religions. Social bonds are a mere means for satisfaction of my needs."

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