The Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- Holy high-tech! The pope will begin broadcasting live audio and video of some of his religious services via the Internet. The Vatican announced that Catholics around the world will soon be able to watch Pope John Paul II recite his Angelus prayers on Sundays. The church's broadcast debut begins Saturday, when Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Assumption.
The Vatican on Monday called it "another sign of the Vatican's effort to promote its image in the world of modern social communication." Catholics in the United States typically see the pope on television only at Christmas and Easter.
People can watch the Internet broadcasts using popular software that can be downloaded free from RealNetworks Inc., a Seattle-based company. A link on the Vatican's Web site -- http://www.vatican.va -- will launch the software and start the broadcast.
