Pope Benedict goes digital

There are many ways to send the message of salvation, either it's for those who haven't know of Jesus yet or for those who have already following Him. Time have changed many things, and that includes how the men in faith spread the words about Jesus to the whole world. At first, letter and mail are the basic way to do that.

But as technology of mankind has evolve, even the Pope himself is picking up mobile phone as a new way for him to reach younger audience.

It is during World Youth Day (WYD) celebration on July 15th this year, Pope Benedict plans to text daily messages of inspiration and hope during the six-day at Sydney event. Australian telecoms firm Telstra will provide voice, data, mobile, broadband and broadcast services for the event, as well as erect digital prayer walls at event sites. Telstra said they're planning to connect around 8,000 volunteers, 2,000 clergy, 3,000 media and an anticipated 225,000 pilgrims to more than 700 locations around Sydney.

"We wanted to make WYD08 a unique experience by using new ways to connect with today's tech-savvy youth," Bishop Anthony Fisher said in a statement on Wednesday. The Chatolic Church has estimated around 225,000 young Catholics expected to attend the WYD '08 Sydney event.

No more information on Reuters (via PCW Business Center) that was reporting the news, whether the Pope will keep on using text message for good or not. Maybe after the Pope has tried using 4 Palm smartphone, he'll get "addicted" to it too, just like us? ;-p

Okay, I think I ought go to church now for a sin confession for mocking the Pope like that, and especially for that picture above... ;-D

[blogged with my Treo 750v]