New app takes Pope Francis’ Philippines visit mobile

Last updated on: December 17, 2014 at 10:56 pm by CNA Daily News

New app takes Pope Francis’ Philippines visit mobile 2014-12-17T22:56:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Manila, Philippines, Dec 17, 2014 / 03:56 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The new official app for the Pope’s January visit to the Philippines will help people follow the Pope’s activities and find the latest news, while letting them offer their prayers on a special prayer wall.

“It is a good way to bring information on the papal visit closer to the people, particularly the youth,” said Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara, chairman of the bishops of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission on Social Communication.

At the Dec. 12 app launch, Bishop Vergara said organizers wanted the public to have the latest information on the papal visit, “especially those who are mobile.”

“I think the Pope in this digital age wants to communicate,” he added, according to the Philippines Sun-Star. “All means of social communication should be utilized for evangelization.”

The app is available for Android and iOS phones. It can be found on the Google Play store and in the iTunes App Store by searching “Papal Visit 2015 – Philippines.”

Presenting information about the Pope’s Jan. 15-19 visit to the Philippines, the apps includes a papal itinerary, a photo gallery and the national prayer for the papal visit. It also includes the audio of the official song of the papal visit: “We Are All God’s Children.”

The app links to several news sources including Vatican Radio, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines News, Catholic News Agency, EWTN and the National Catholic Register.

The app was produced by the company Digital Media PH, but the Irondale, Ala.-based EWTN Global Catholic Network is also playing a role.

“EWTN is hosting the app platform and sponsoring its development for Catholic organizations,” Edwin Lopez, EWTN international marketing manager for the Asia-Pacific region, told CNA Dec. 16.

Since December 2013, the Catholic network has hosted apps for several Philippines organizations including CBCP News, Radio Veritas, TV Maria, the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart, and the Diocese of Pasig.

The Philippines is a youthful country with a large presence on social media.

The median age in the Philippines is under 23 years old. About 35 percent have internet access and 94 percent have Facebook accounts, Lopez said.

Another feature of the papal visit app is a unique prayer wall on which users may post their prayer requests and intentions.

“May you continue to guide your flock here,” Luigi, an app user from Mindanao, wrote Dec. 16. “Praying for your safe arrival here next year.”

App users may also record a voice message to send to Pope Francis and find links to several official social media accounts for the papal visit.

The app’s description cites Pope Francis’ June 1 message for the 48th World Communications Day: “Keeping the doors of our churches open also means keeping them open in the digital environment so that people, whatever their situation in life, can enter, and so that the Gospel can go out to reach everyone.”

Asia - Pacific

Previous Post

December 17, 2014

Pope Francis strengthens commission for the protection of minors

Next Post

December 18, 2014 Sing Sing inmates participate in gift exchange with Pope Francis

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the name "Matthew" mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Faithful Gift of God Wisdom Beloved