Pope Francis defends millennials, but warns them about too much reality TV

Pope Francis thinks millennials are underestimated.

Pope Francis has come to the defense of millennials, but he has also warned them about the danger of too much screen time, a charge often leveled at the generation.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- Pope Francis addressed millennials on Tuesday, defending them from some of the criticism older generations heap upon them. "many people say that young people are distracted and superficial. They are wrong!" Pope Francis said.

Millennials are often accused of being self-absorbed and weak, both in body and spirit. However, Pope Francis disagrees.

Still, there is a need to millennials to moderate trends in their behavior which prompt some of this criticism. One culprit is the smart phone. Most millennials are seen spending inordinate periods of time on their phones, instead of interacting with the real world around them. They also watch television and consume reality shows which shapes their views and opinions, despite the fact reality shows are fake.

Pope Francis warned of these dangers.

"Still, we should acknowledge our need to reflect on our lives and direct them towards the future.

"In the social media, we see faces of young people appearing in any number of pictures recounting more or less real events, but we don't know how much of all this is really 'history', an experience that can be communicated and endowed with purpose and meaning.

"Television is full of 'reality shows' which are not real stories, but only moments passed before a television camera by characters living from day to day, without a greater plan.

"Don't let yourselves be led astray by this false image of reality! Be the protagonists of your history; decide your own future."

"To have a past is not the same as to have a history. In our life we can have plenty of memories, but how many of them are really a part of our memory? How many are significant for our hearts and help to give meaning to our lives?"

Pope Francis encouraged young people hearing his homily to spend more time with older relatives, such as grandparents and parents, and to make memories with these people that can add meaning to their lives.

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