Pope Benedict Denounces Violent Video Games

In his message to the Catholic Church's 41st World Communications Day, the pope said, "Any trend to produce programmes and products -- including animated films and video games -- which in the name of entertainment exalt violence and portray anti-social behavior or the trivialization of human sexuality is a perversion, all the more repulsive when these programmes are directed at children and adolescents."

The pope's message, released this week, was issued in advice of World Communications Day, which is scheduled for May 20. This year's theme is "Children and the Media: A Challenge for Education."

Pope Benedict released the message as the European Union debates whether to outlaw violent video games sold to children. Germany, which is serving a six-month rotating term as E.U. president, has outlawed violent video games, and is a leader among supporters of an E.U.-wide ban.