For many young people, it is the first thing they look at in the morning… and often, the last thing they see before going to sleep. the smartphone. a powerful tool that connects us to almost the entire world. but cardinal raymond burke has a simple question for generation z: are we using our phones… or are our phones beginning to control us?
Speaking recently with two young catholic content creators, cardinal burke said one thing about today’s younger generation particularly concerns him. some people, he said, seem to be “imprisoned by their telephones.” the cardinal pointed to something many of us have probably seen. friends sitting together — but looking at their screens. families sharing the same room — but living in different digital worlds. people speaking to someone in front of them — while constantly being distracted by notifications.
But cardinal burke’s message is not simply anti-technology. in fact, he believes digital media can become a powerful instrument for good. the internet certainly contains harmful material, he acknowledged. but when young people use social media for good purposes, cardinal burke believes it has the potential to help transform the world.
And that message closely echoes pope leo xiv. speaking to young people at the vatican earlier this year, the pope acknowledged that technology can be useful and good. but he also gave them some remarkably practical advice. when friends are together, he said, there is no need to constantly have a smartphone or tablet in their hands. talk to each other. play together. study together. pray together. because, as pope leo reminded them, we are human beings — not machines.
The pope also warned that some applications are deliberately designed in ways that can encourage dependency. his suggestion? set limits. choose a time in the evening to put the phone away. spend time speaking with your family. make room for friendship. and make room for prayer.
The church’s message, therefore, is not: throw away your smartphone. it is: don’t surrender your freedom to it. technology can connect people. social media can spread the gospel. a video can introduce someone to christ. in fact, one of the young creators interviewing cardinal burke said that the internet itself played an important role in introducing him to catholicism and beginning his journey into the church.
CARLO ACUTIS SHOWED HOW TECHNOLOGY CAN SERVE CHRIST
Saint carlo acutis offers perhaps one of the clearest examples for today’s digital generation. he loved computers and understood technology. but technology did not become the centre of his life. christ did.
Pope leo xiv has repeatedly called young people to use the digital world with critical thinking, moderation and freedom — protecting real friendships and the spiritual dimension of life.
So perhaps the challenge for generation z is not simply to spend less time online. it is to ask a deeper question: what is my technology helping me become? more distracted — or more attentive? more isolated — or more connected? further from the people beside me — or closer to them?
Your phone can be an extraordinary tool. it can educate. it can connect. it can even evangelize. but a tool belongs in your hand. it should never become the prison that holds you.
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