Pope Francis says he’s a ‘dinosaur’ when it comes to technology

Pope Francis said he is a “dinosaur” when it comes to technology.

Ironically, his comments came during his second Google Hangout as pontiff.

During the Google Hangout launching Scholas Labs, Pope Francis spoke with students with disabilities and special needs from Spain, India, Brazil and the U.S., who shared how technology is helping them study, play and communicate. Scholas Labs is a Scholas Occurrentes project challenging students, developers and experts to use technology to improve education.

The program can help children by “building bridges, communicating,” he said, translated to English in the captions.

“When we don’t communicate, we stay alone with our limitations, and that is bad for us. When we do communicate, the most important thing is communication, give and receive, and that does us well, and we’re never alone.”

Alicia, 17, of Madrid showed the pope the camera she uses for her film group and offered what he called “good advice”: “Before you act, think.” She also asked the pontiff if he liked to take pictures and upload them to his computer.

“Do you want me to tell you the truth?” he said.

“I’m old-fashioned when it comes to computers. I’m a dinosaur. I don’t know how to work a computer. What a pity, huh? What a shame.”

The pope also told 14-year-old Bautista of Madrid, who has autism, he does not have a tablet and asked if it was very difficult to use.

And Isaias, an 18-year-old Nebraskan who has growth hormone deficiency, shared with Pope Francis that technology helps him to get his thoughts out quickly and keep up with his classwork.

“What do you do when you face something difficult?” Isaias asked.

The pope answered, “First of all, do not get upset.”

Pope Francis ended the 40-minute Hangout with an enthusiastic, two-handed wave and a message for all the children with whom he had spoken, saying each of them had a treasure to share.

“What you do from the place where you are helps all of us, helps us to understand that life is a beautiful treasure. It only makes sense if we give it,” he said.

h/t Crux