Pope condemns sex, violence in media

VATICAN CITY, May 20 (Reuters) Pope Benedict today criticised media that transmitted anti-social and violent programmes as well as images that ''vulgarise human sexuality''.

The Pope made his comments in a message for the Roman Catholic Church's World Day of Communications, whose theme this year is ''Children and the Media: A Challenge for Education''.

''Programmes that instil violence or anti-social behaviour or vulgarise human sexuality are unacceptable, more so if they are presented to minors,'' the Pontiff said, addressing crowds of faithful in St. Peter's Square.

The Pontiff further called on the heads of the media industry to ''promote human dignity, marriage and the family''.

The Pope's comments followed a written message for the World Day of Communications released earlier this year which criticised animated films and video games, among other products, that exalt violence and trivialise sexuality.

''How could one explain this 'entertainment' to the countless innocent young people who actually suffer violence, exploitation and abuse?'' he asked in the message.

REUTERS ABM RAI1839