ROME – Pope Francis is harnessing the power of technology to connect young people and encourage prayer through his newest app.
He launched the Click to Pray app just three days before attending World Youth Day in Panama.
In front of a crowd in St. Peter’s Square, the pope launched the app on a tablet. He asked the priest who held the tablet if he’d set up the app correctly.
“Internet and social media are a resource of our time: an opportunity to stay in touch with others, to share values and projects, and to express the desire to make a community,” Pope Francis said. “The network can also help us to pray in community, to pray together. . .I especially invite you young people to download the Click To Pray app, continuing to pray the rosary for peace with me, especially during the World Youth Day in Panama.”
The app is part of Pope Francis’ worldwide prayer network, and it hopes to connect thousands of people throughout the world.
After users create a profile, they can access their account and propose prayer intentions to pray for yourself or for other intentions.
Then, users set a time to start their prayer in the morning. Users also select another moment during the day to receive an invitation to prayer, and a final moment in the evening to reflect on a daily review.
“The app invites you to pray together for his intentions which address current challenges facing humanity and the mission of the Church,” the app’s website reads. “Because ‘every day is different,’ the app offers you a prayer 365 days a year to help you discover each day how God calls you to live. Join us as we pray together with the Pope, united with the Heart of Christ, thousands of us throughout the world now form a truly global prayer network.”
Click to Pray is available for Android and Apple users, and Pope Francis has his own official profile on the app.
