VATICAN CITY (Reuters) — Pope Benedict called on the media yesterday to promote family values and criticised the Internet and television’s often “destructive” influence on young people.“Undoubtedly, much of great benefit to civilisation is contributed by the various components of the mass media,” the Pope said in a speech to the Vatican’s communications department.

“On the other hand, it is also readily apparent that much of what is transmitted in various forms to the homes of millions of families around the world is destructive,” he said.

The Pope also said the media had “a pervasive role in shaping culture” and that power was moving away from print to electronic media which were increasingly controlled by “a few multinational conglomerates whose influence crosses all social and cultural boundaries”.