Put away phones at mealtimes and talk to each other, says pope

FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis reacts as he arrives to deliver the "Urbi et Orbi" Christmas Day message from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, December 25, 2019. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday urged people to talk to each other at mealtimes instead of using their mobile phones, citing Jesus, Mary and Joseph as an example for families to follow.

They "prayed, worked and communicated with each other", the pope told the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square during his weekly Angelus address.

"I ask myself if you, in your family, know how to communicate or are you like those kids at mealtables where everyone is chatting on their mobile phone ... where there is silence like at a Mass but they don't communicate," the pope said.

FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis sends a message on a mobile phone at the end of a special audience with altar servers in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican, July 31, 2018. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi

"We have to get back to communicating in our families," Francis said in his unscripted remarks. "Fathers, parents, children, grandparents, brothers and sisters, this is a task to undertake today, on the day of the Holy Family."

FILE PHOTO: A worshipper uses a phone with a cover depicting Holy Family as Pope Francis arrives to lead the Wednesday general audience in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican, September 5, 2018. REUTERS/Max Rossi

(Reporting by Gavin Jones; Editing by Alison Williams)

FILE PHOTO: Youths sit outside a restaurant in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 16, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton