Vatican launches live translation app for papal events

Catholics can now listen to Pope Francis’ speeches live in five languages following the launch of a new smartphone app, the Vatican announced on Friday.

Vatican Audio translates Francis, who usually addresses the faithful in Italian, into Spanish, English, French, German and Portuguese, also offering Italian when he speaks in his native Spanish.

A Vatican spokesperson told AFP that the app will work for the pope’s Angelus speech this Sunday, finally enabling the thousands of people who will flock to St. Peter’s Square from around the world to understand the pontiff.

Vatican Audio will also work on Tuesday, when Francis will meet 60,000 altar boys and girls — mainly teenagers — taking part in a week-long pilgrimage to Rome from over a dozen countries. (AFP)