by Pam Hackenmiller
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will launch a mobile app ahead of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States to help church leadership and Catholics at the parish level engage with each other.
Archbishop John Wester of Santa Fe, N.M., discussed the app, which will be called Catholic Church, Wednesday at the USCCB spring general assembly.
Wester said 98 percent of parishes have websites, but only about 4 percent have mobile apps. Users are increasingly going mobile, and “we need to do the same,” Wester said.
The app, which Wester said will launch in mid-July, would allow individual parishes as well as dioceses and archdioceses to post blogs, upload videos or podcasts, share Mass times, and take prayer requests, among other uses. Wester said the app will also help Catholics find nearby parishes and connect with leadership.
Wester said the app will also have comprehensive news and coverage about Pope Francis’ September visit to the United States.