Pope to Teens: Happiness Can't Be Downloaded Like an App

VATICAN CITY (TheBlaze/AP) — Pope Francis has told teenagers happiness can't be downloaded like a cellphone app.

Francis used the reference to connect to the faithful attendees aged 13-16 who converged on Rome for a Holy Year weekend for teenagers.

During his homily Sunday in St. Peter's Square, he told a crowd of 100,000 that "happiness has no price."

"Your happiness has no price. It cannot be bought. It is not an app that you can download on your phones, nor will the latest update bring you freedom and grandeur in love," the Francis told the teens, according to the Guardian.

Pope Francis Talks to Teens about True Friendship, True Freedom, and True Love https://t.co/O3o8ign0n7 pic.twitter.com/VQaZyTdZ7w

— Aleteia (@AleteiaEN) April 24, 2016

Francis also added, "Don’t believe those who would distract you from the real treasure, which you are, by telling you that life is beautiful only if you have many possessions," the Guardian reported. "Be sceptical about people who want to make you believe that you are only important if you act tough, like the heroes in films, or when you wear the latest fashions."

A day earlier, in a video message to the teens' rally in a Rome stadium, Francis likened being out of contact with God through lack of love to being where there's no cellphone reception.

"Just remember that if Jesus is not in your life, it is as though there is no signal," Francis said. "Always be sure to go where there is a network: family, parish, school," he said, according to AFP.

After Mass, dozens of white-robed priests surrounded Francis, many snapping selfies with him.

These teens got an unexpected chance to confess to Pope Francis https://t.co/b0CicyMLIF pic.twitter.com/RMN0bPsZIC

— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 24, 2016

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