Pope Benedict XVI, current head of the Catholic Church, announced in his speech during World Communication Day on Wednesday that he has taken a strong opposition against violent video games and animated films. The Pope had harsh words for all who develop products that supposedly laud violence and anti-social behavior, especially on any form of media that are seen as child’s play.

“Any trend to produce programs 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,” Pope Benedict XVI said in his speech. He continued that it is “all the more repulsive” when programs were directed at children and adolescents.

 “How could one explain this ‘entertainment’ to the countless innocent young people who actually suffer violence, exploitation and abuse?” he questioned.

The Pope delivered his speech with the idea that children should be exposed and educated with media that incorporates family values, true goals and achievements of humanity, true value of marriage and life and the value of human dignity.

The papal address follows hotly on the heels of the European Union’s investigation into violent video games. The German government is currently studying European regulations in an effort to harmonize a violent video game ban policy across the entire Union.

While the flurry of activity over video game violence has taken place across the pond, the topic is an equally contested one stateside. Investigations into violent video games spur individual states to implement their own regulations, which eventually are overturned in the courts for being unconstitutional. The incidence of video game-related crime leads not only authorities, but also researchers to look into a cause and effect relationship. Violent video games have been found in studies to increase feelings of paranoia and to have a measurable effect on the brain.