Vatican official urges use of technology to proclaim Gospel

Apr 11, 2013 - 04:02 pm .- The president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, encouraged Catholics to make bold use of new technologies in the work of evangelization.

Pope app tops iTunes charts

Mar 26, 2013 - 02:09 am .- A Vatican-sponsored news application for smart phones known as “The Pope App” has risen to the top of the charts in the iTunes store, reflecting a spike in interest in the papacy and newly-elected Pope Francis.

Author cheers Pope's 'flurry' of social media outreach

Jan 30, 2013 - 04:03 am .- A Catholic author and blogger says Pope Benedict's use of social networking has given the Church an example of how to better evangelize through the media.

Pope focuses on best way to use social media

Jan 24, 2013 - 11:53 am .- Pope Benedict XVI has asked people to use social networking sites "responsibly" and "with respect," given the growing number of people who are becoming internet dependent.

New journalism program launched amid Pope's Twitter success

Jan 18, 2013 - 12:01 pm .- A pontifical university in Rome is launching a new digital journalism program on Feb. 14 as widespread response to Pope Benedict's Twitter account continues.

Pope emphasizes education of youth in response to social fractures

Dec 13, 2012 - 12:26 pm .- As young people become more concerned with quick professional success and rely on social networks as a replacement for community, Pope Benedict said that families and governments must work for the authentic education of students.

In first tweet, Pope blesses his million-plus followers

Dec 12, 2012 - 10:03 am .- Pope Benedict XVI made his debut on Twitter today, sending out a greeting and a blessing as his first tweet to his “followers.”

Pope expected to have 1 million Twitter followers by launch

Dec 6, 2012 - 10:54 am .- The Pontifical Council for Social Communications is expecting one million total followers in eight languages when Pope Benedict issues his first tweet on Dec. 12.

Vatican office to launch Pope smartphone app

Dec 5, 2012 - 12:03 pm .- The president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, announced that his office is designing a new app on Pope Benedict for smartphones.

Pope Benedict will make Twitter debut with @pontifex

Dec 3, 2012 - 10:13 am .- The Pope's Twitter account will be @pontifex and will start on Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Vatican representatives announced.

Teens equate virtual world with reality, study finds

Nov 27, 2012 - 12:02 pm .- A study carried out in Spain on the digital breach between adults and young people revealed that teens see the online world as an extension of reality, while adults use the internet as a tool.

Jesus expressed the faith in small 'tweets,' cardinal says

Nov 14, 2012 - 12:07 pm .- A Vatican official urged Catholics to share the Gospel in a concise and eloquent way like Jesus, “who used only 78 Greek characters to express the faith, barely half of the amount used for a message on Twitter today.”

Bloggers see opportunity in social media for Catholic Church

Nov 12, 2012 - 10:49 am .- The rapidly developing world of social media provides new and critically important venues for Church leaders to reach out and connect with people in a digital way, according to panelists at a Nov. 11 dialogue.

Plans emerge for Pope's personal Twitter account

Nov 9, 2012 - 01:58 pm .- Just after holding the synod on the New Evangelization, Vatican officials say that Pope Benedict XVI will start his own Twitter account.

Pope to examine social networks as portals of faith

Oct 2, 2012 - 04:18 pm .- Pope Benedict XVI will release a message in January 2013 that will examine the promise of social networks like Facebook and Twitter as “new spaces of evangelization” and “portals of truth and faith.”

Bishops consider revamping their communications model

Jun 15, 2012 - 10:54 am .- Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City encouraged his fellow bishops to make use of new communications methods in proclaiming the unchanging truths of the Catholic faith.

Cardinal Dolan's arrival on Twitter draws thousands

May 17, 2012 - 02:08 am .- Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York debuted on Twitter last week, adapting his engaging, humorous style to the popular microblogging site and quickly becoming the third most followed cardinal.

First video game about Jesus launches on Facebook

May 16, 2012 - 02:28 am .- On the heels of its widely-popular “The Journey of Moses” Facebook game, Lightside Games is venturing into historic territory by creating the first-ever video game based on the life of Jesus.