Pope Francis: Tattoos could help connect priests with 'culture of the young'

The Pope says people should not fear tattoos as they can help build communities.

Speaking during a meeting with young people at The Vatican, Pope Francis gave the example of Christian girls in Eritrea where a tattoo of a cross on their forehead were used as a symbol of beauty and religious faith.

He said: "The Eritreans for years made the cross here (the forehead). Also today we see them. The cross was tattooed."

He added: "Don't be afraid of tattoos."

The pontiff said tattoos could be used by young priests to connect to people they were trying to reach out to because the tattoos often communicated information about a person.

The tattoo could spark conversation and provide a way for a priest to find out more about an individual and connect with the "culture of the young", he explained.

Pope Francis said: "Tattoos often signify membership in a community. 'You young man, that you're tattooed like that, what are you looking for?' In this tattoo, which community membership are you expressing?

"It's important not to be scared. With young people, one should never be scared. Never. Because always, even behind the things that are not so good, there is something that will bring us to some truth."

The Pope was speaking ahead of the synod which is focused around the topic Young People, Faith and the Discernment of Vocation.

He also said that young people "must be taken seriously" as they are often "marginalised from ordinary public life".

In other comments, the Pope said Catholics who pay for prostitutes are committing a "crime against humanity" and he asked that they be forgiven.

Pope Francis will visit Ireland in August, where he will take part in the Festival of Families at Croke Park, Dublin.