Pope Francis Met With Apple CEO Tim Cook

Pope Francis met privately with Apple CEO Tim Cook on Friday.

The meeting took place at the Vatican and lasted roughly 15 minutes. It was part of the Roman Catholic Church's World Day of Communications.

Afterwards, the pope called modern communications “a gift of God.”

“Emails, text messages, social networks and chats can also be fully human forms of communications,” the pope is quoted as saying by Reuters. “It is not technology which determines whether or not communication is authentic, but rather the human heart and our capacity to use wisely the means at our disposal.”

(Related: Pope Francis reiterates church's opposition to gay marriage as Italy debates civil unions.)

The 55-year-old Cook cited his faith when he came out gay in a 2014 op-ed.

“I'm proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me,” Cook wrote.