D Pope and Gzus - txt d WYD - msgs - luv ur NMEs
Pope Benedict XVI will send religious text messages to thousands of young Catholics when he attends World Youth Day in Australia, organisers say.
The move aims to help the Pope connect with his technology-loving audience.
Digital prayer walls will also be set up and a web-based social networking site established, organisers say.
The co-ordinating bishop, Anthony Fisher, said that the event would be "the most innovative World Youth Day to date".
"We wanted to make WYD08 a unique experience by using new ways to connect with today's tech-savvy youth," he said in a statement.
Attendees would receive daily inspirational text messages and religious teaching would be broadcast on the web, he said.
The six-day event will be held in Sydney in mid-July.
It expected to attract more than 200,000 young Catholics to the Australian city.