Verizon Wireless is introducing a new mobile phone service in the United States to allow subscribers to receive messages from the Pope.

For 30 cents, a daily missive based on the homilies, speeches and messages of Pope John Paul II is sent on the mobile, under a deal with the Vatican and Italian wireless services provider Acotel, based in Rome. Other Wireless operators are said to work on their own versions.

Whereas service providers are targeting the growing number of people developing a taste for virtual religion (religion is now one of the main motivations why people surf Internet), the Catholic Church is hoping to send a “modern” message to younger generations.
Replacing preaching with “texting” could help reach this scattered part of the flock.