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A simple Tweet from his iPad, and Pope Benedict launched the Vatican’s new online news portal.
The new website www.news.va aggregates news content from the Vatican’s newspaper, radio, television and online outlets.
News.va offers print, video and audio material. It features a list of the 10 most-read stories and offers links to many social network sites. Users can share content through Facebook, Twitter and email, said Thaddeus Jones, an official of the pontifical council who co-ordinated the creation of the portal.
News.va is updated three times a day and is outfitted for live-streaming of papal events, audio feeds from Vatican Radio, photographs from L’Osservatore Romano and printed texts of papal homilies, statements and speeches.
The first big test will be World Youth Day in August, which is expected to generate heavy traffic to the site.
Initially available in English and Italian, new languages will be added gradually, beginning with Spanish, followed probably by French and Portuguese.
While the 84 year old Pope may not appear to be a media-savvy pontiff, Archbishop Claudio Celli, who heads the Pontifical Council for Social Communications said, “in reality, with this pope Vatican communications have made enormous strides.”
“I want to be present wherever the people are found,” Benedict said prior to the release of the Vatican’s YouTube channel.
News.va was released on the feast of Sts Peter and Paul, and the 60th anniversary of Pope Benedict’s priestly ordination.
Sources
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News category: World.
