VATICAN CITY (REUTERS) - Pope Francis, who has called the Internet a "gift from God," confessed via Webcam to an inquisitive girl on Thursday that he is a disaster with technology and does not know how to use a computer.

Alicia, from Spain, who took part in a worldwide Google Hangout for children with special needs, asked the Pope if he liked to take pictures and download them on his computer.

"I have to tell you the truth. I am a disaster with machines," he said.

Francis used the Spanish word "tronco", or tree trunk, which is colloquially used for someone who is very clumsy, or a disaster at something.

"I am not able to use computers," the 78-year-old Argentine Pope said, laughing.

"What an embarrassment, right?"

Last year, Francis said in a message on communications that the Internet was a "gift from God" that could help unite people but he also has warned families to shut off their smartphones and talk more to each other.