The revered Pope has left us, and he will be remembered not only as one of the greatest humanitarians of the century, but also as the first tech-savvy Pope. On the day of his death, it took the Vatican just minutes to alert the world's media of his sad demise, using SMS and e-mail. Television networks across the globe were on standby a minute later when the simple e-mail: "The Holy father died this evening at 21:37 in his private apartment," was beamed to a sea of state-of-the-art handheld computers, purchased by journalists at the suggestion of the Vatican.

TV spectators across the globe learnt of the Pope's death even before the thousands of faithful disciples gathered in prayer below the Pope's window in St Peter's Square. Archbishop Leonardo Sandri only informed them minutes later and their reaction-a long round of applause-an Italian custom, was captured on television in real time.

The Pope himself wrote in a February letter that the church should not be shy of using the media, including the Internet, to spread its message, saying: "mass media can and must promote justice and solidarity."

Last year, the Vatican brokered a deal with Verizon for a service-to deliver a Daily Papal Message to subscribers' cell phones. A church representative said the Vatican had a history of embracing new communications media, and cell phones were a natural vehicle for reaching younger believers. "People are always trying to find ways to market His Holiness," said Sister Mary Ann Walsh, a spokeswoman for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Earlier, the Vatican set up a special page for the Pope to deliver messages about faith and world peace. "While the Internet can never replace that profound experience of God which only the living, liturgical and sacramental life of the Church can offer, it can certainly provide a unique supplement and support, in both preparing for the encounter with Christ in community, and sustaining the new believer in the journey of faith which then begins," the pontiff proclaimed at the 36th annual World Communications Day in 2002.

In 2001, to much fanfare, The Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington DC opened to the public. The center houses five Interactive Galleries that allow visitors to become part of the center's evolving exhibits.

The Pope's health crisis in the past few weeks also prompted a flurry of Web activity. Though the main Vatican website was unreachable due to heavy traffic, most of the time, it did not discourage the faithful from initiating e-mail prayer chains.

While the whole world mourns the demise of the revered Pope John Paul II, the respect he commands will live on in the heart of millions through his work of charity, and his message shall be spread far and wide through the benefits of technology. Amen to that.

Jasmine Kaur, New Delhi

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