VATICAN: Pope Francis, in a recent catechesis, called sexual pleasure as a gift from God. He also spoke about the harmful impact of pornography and said that “satisfaction without a relationship can generate forms of addiction.”

''We must defend love. Winning against the battle of lust can be a lifelong undertaking. When pornography becomes addictive it causes one's behavior to change. It can also lead to dangerous vices. It doesn't allow you to think about others. Rather it makes you even to harm others for your own need and happiness. It even destroys romantic relationships," Pope Francis said.

This is not the first time Pope Francis has spoken about the dangers of pornography. He spoke about this in October 2022. He also admitted that he knows of priests and nuns who watch pornography. Pope said that he advised them to remove the videos from their phones and informed them about the dangers it could cause. He pointed out that he was referring to everything, not just child abuse videos.

Later, in a documentary released in April 2023, he also praised the virtues of sex, calling it "one of the beautiful things that God has given to humans."

"To express yourself sexually is a richness. So anything that detracts from real sexual expression lessens you and depletes this richness," he added, referring to masturbation.