The Vatican has a new website called Pope2You.net The site has a link to a Facebook page where you can send a prayer for the sick, send a virtual postcard to others, download messages from the Pope, and sign up for future emails. Notably missing is the “wall” where visitors can write comments and interact with each other.
The site also offers links to send video and audio downloads of Vatican news to your iPhone or iPod Touch.
A link is also provided for the Vatican’s YouTube channel which was launched earlier.
Another link on the site offers an intriguing format. The link is for “WikiCath” which the site claims is an interactive way, using wiki-technology, to read the Pope’s message on the World Day of Communication. This section breaks up the message into parts and provides links to background information on key words and phrases. I am reminded of the North American Commentary to the Code of Canon Law which also provides background information to key parts of each canon. So often you learn much more from reading the commentary than just reading the Code alone.
WikiCath amazingly invites comments. Currently, when you click on the comment button, an email message appears indicating that your comments will be sent via email, and thus won’t be posted. The Italian bishops’ conference is helping the Vatican to work with this site.
I have to smile as I watch the Vatican start to use new technology for communication. I think it’s great! I smile because it is such a cautious, exploratory attempt. And I have to be honest in admitting that I am also a “newbie” in some of these technology areas and thus also tread cautiously when trying these technologies. Every step forward is definitely welcome. The challenge will come, in my opinion, in the missing step that so many young people around the world take so easily. That step is opening up one’s site so that visitors’ comments are visible to all, and thus encourage interaction.
Not everyone is ready for this step and I can’t blame them. I still don’t totally understand the allure for young people of posting their daily lives and friends’ comments on a site that is open to the public. Yet, it would definitely be intriguing to visit a Vatican site where the public could post comments and interact on any given topic. Maybe we’re not ready for that yet. But given these first steps using Facebook, YouTube, WikiCath, and the iPhone, one can only hope.
