Papal texting service

It's not quite a message from Heaven. But, for Catholics, it is probably the next best thing at only 20 cent a day.

The Vatican's text messaging service, introduced in Italy last January, made its Irish debut yesterday when subscribers received their first daily communication from the Pope.

The papal thought for the day was brief, but featured none of the abbreviations for which the texting genre is famed. "The world needs a sign of hope for Christian families," it read. "May they be able to open their doors to the Lord."

Similarly short extracts from the Pope's teachings will be offered daily at noon to subscribers who text the letters POPE ON to the number 53141.