ABUJA, Nigeria — A Catholic bishop in Nigeria has warned that the growing culture of digital distraction risks undermining the silence needed for prayer and spiritual discernment, urging Christians to resist the constant demands of notifications, social media, and online interactions.
In an interview with ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, on Sept. 25, the auxiliary bishop of Nigeria’s Archdiocese of Abuja cautioned that digital technology, despite its benefits, should not displace Christians’ relationship with God, authentic human relationships, and sacramental life.
“Our world has changed, and the way human beings connect, think, and communicate has been radically rewritten by the digital revolution. But we must not allow digital noise to replace our silent prayers and quiet moments with our God,” Bishop Anselm Umoren told ACI Africa at the seventh annual general assembly of the Archdiocese of Abuja held under the theme “Christian Faith and the Evolving Communication Technology.”
Umoren challenged Christians to reflect on how they can preserve their faith amid rapid technological changes, warning that the digital environment encourages constant communication at the expense of contemplation.
“One of the dangers is that the digital world often demands constant communication. Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a time to keep silence and a time to speak. But the digital world sometimes tells us that we must speak constantly,” he said.
He added that social media platforms encourage users to react immediately to trending topics, share content, and express opinions, leaving little room for reflection.
“The danger is that we can become so busy scrolling, commenting, posting, and reacting — even inside the church during Mass — that we no longer know how to sit in holy silence,” the bishop said.
Emphasizing the importance of silence in the spiritual life, he explained that constant exposure to digital noise could make it difficult for Christians to hear Godʼs voice, reflect on their lives, and discern God’s will.
“Technology should not take away our capacity for contemplation. We must learn that there are moments when the phone must be put away, the notifications must stop, and the human heart must become quiet enough to listen to God,” he said.
Umoren highlighted what he described as a paradox of the digital age: unprecedented technological connectivity alongside growing loneliness.
“Our generation is living through a strange paradox. We live in an age of extraordinary technological connectivity and high productivity, yet we are also confronted by profound loneliness,” he said.
Umoren, a member of the Missionary Society of St. Paul Nigerian, observed that having thousands of online friends and followers does not necessarily translate into meaningful relationships or genuine companionship, particularly during difficult moments.
“A person may have thousands of friends and followers online but very few people who actually know them deeply or are physically present when they are in difficulty,” he said.
Umoren emphasized that Christianity is fundamentally rooted in relationships, both with God and with other people, rather than merely exchanging information.
“The Christian faith is about relationship. Christianity is not merely an exchange of information. It is communion with God and communion with other human beings,” he said.
While warning against the dangers of digital technology, Umoren acknowledged its potential to advance the Churchʼs evangelizing mission, describing cyberspace as a new mission territory.
“The digital world has become a new mission territory. Every Christian who has the motivation to proclaim the Gospel must recognize that cyberspace is now part of the mission field,” he said.
Reflecting on the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI), he noted that digital tools can assist with communication, research, education, and evangelization but cannot replace a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
“If we ask a machine to give us information about Jesus, that is different from knowing Jesus personally. Faith is not merely information about God. Faith is a relationship with God. Our digital tools can assist us, but they cannot believe for us. They cannot pray for us in the deepest sense. They cannot replace the encounter between the human heart and God,” he said.
The bishop also defended the pastoral value of livestreamed Masses, particularly for people who are sick, elderly, hospitalized, or otherwise unable to attend church physically.
He cautioned, however, against treating online participation as a substitute for gathering physically to celebrate the Eucharist.
“Livestreaming holy Mass is a beautiful pastoral provision … But livestreamed Mass can never replace the physical gathering of the Christian community around the altar,” he said.
He further underscored the importance of physical participation in the sacraments, noting that digital platforms cannot provide the experience of receiving the Eucharist or participating fully in sacramental life.
“You cannot receive the holy Eucharist through a phone screen. You cannot experience the healing touch of the sacraments through an application. You cannot fully substitute physical Christian fellowship with a digital connection,” he said.
According to Umoren, the Church must ensure that technological advances strengthen rather than weaken authentic Christian communion.
“The Church is a community of real people; we must safeguard the sanctity of real, physical, human, and authentic presence. Technology should support communion, not destroy it,” he said.
Turning to the formation of young people, the bishop called on the Church to go beyond discouraging excessive phone use and equip young people to engage responsibly with digital technology and use it to proclaim the Gospel.
“We should not simply tell young people, ‘Put your phones away.’ We should also teach them how to use their phones responsibly and evangelically. A young person who understands technology and has a strong relationship with Christ can become a powerful digital missionary,” he said.
He also urged the Church to help young people develop critical thinking and discernment amid the vast amount of information available online.
“Our children are growing up in an environment where they are exposed to enormous quantities of information. Not everything they see online is true, beautiful, or beneficial. They must develop the capacity to discern,” Umoren said.
This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.