Vatican Radio App

Vatican Radio recently launched its first ever app for both Android and Apple iOS. The app has three basic functions: Radio, Agenda, and News.

The Radio section provides access to five Vatican Radio channels that stream 70 daily programs in 40 languages. Of the functions this app provides, the Radio feature, ironically, is the one I use least.

The app only streams 5 channels of programming at one time. The few times I’ve tried streaming from the America and Middle East channel, I typically wind up hearing Spanish or Portuguese programming. Beautiful languages, just not ones I speak!

*Note, Android 3.0 or higher is required to access the Radio function and audio streaming channels.

The Agenda section lets you follow the Holy Father’s public events in real time. In this section, I can access text, audio, and live video of the pope’s talks, including his Sunday Angelus and Wednesday General Audience addresses.

*Note, Android 4.0 or higher is required to view the video streaming.

The News section has quickly become one of my daily “must stops.” If there is news concerning the Church and the world, it most likely will find its way to this section. The added touch here is that most news stories have also included an mp3 link to the Vatican Radio program that discusses the news items in more detail.

The app is free. Click here to download the iOS version. Click here to download Android version. According to the Vatican Radio website, an app for Windows Mobile is in development.

For its first release, I’m pleased with the Vatican Radio app. It’s a good tool that provides up-close and real-time access to news and events from the Holy See.

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.