Pope sends text messages to pilgrims

Staff writers
July 15, 2008

A DIRECT line to God is out of the question, but you can have one to the Pope as he starts sending text messages today.

Last week, the Pope vied with the iPhone for popularity on the web, but this week the world’s Catholic leader embraced the new technology.

The Pope will send his first SMS today to thousands of World Youth Day pilgrims who have signed up to receive divine direction via technology.

As part of the Catholic festival, Telstra has erected eight temporary base stations to allow young pilgrims to send text messages to family and friends.

Four giant digital “prayer wall'' screens have also been erected at the Sydney Opera House, the Domain, Darling Harbour and Randwick Racecourse. the rest image