Benedict’s app-titude lets users follow live

31 Jan 2013

By The Record

This is a screen capture of “The Pope App,” launched by the Vatican Jan. 23, the eve of Pope Benedict XVI’s World Communications Day message. PHOTO: CNS/Vatican

The Vatican launched a new “Pope App” on the eve of the release of the Pope’s World Communications Day message, which is dedicated to social networks as important spaces for evangelisation.

The new app provides live streaming of papal events and video feeds from the Vatican’s six webcams. It sends out alerts and links to top stories coming out of the Vatican’s many news outlets, and carries words and images of Pope Benedict XVI.

The “Pope App” went live on January 23 for iPhone and iPad, while an Android version is expected to be ready at the end of February. It’s currently available in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian.

The Vatican has been stepping up its digital presence in recent years – the latest example being the papal Twitter feed @Pontifex, which has attracted more than two million followers in nine languages since its debut on December 12. - CNS