Using e-mail and SMS messaging, the Vatican and accredited journalists took only a few minutes to report the death of Pope John Paul the Second this weekend.
The Vatican City said that in February the Pope encouraged the church to utilise new media, including the Internet, as a way of spreading its messages, reports Reuters. The Vatican City believed the fastest way to inform the media of the Pope`s death was to e-mail major news networks.
According to Reuters, the Vatican City message read: "The Holy Father died this evening at 21:37 in his private apartment."
Television networks around the world were already on standby when the e-mail announcement was sent to journalists, who were equipped with handheld computers as suggested by the Vatican.
Associated Press reports that 100 years ago, the only indication that a Pope had passed away was by the closing of a bronze door at the entrance of St Peter`s Square.
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