Pope Benedict XVI may be able to make a call to the international
space station on May 4th if all goes well.
This would be the first time
any pope has been able to make a call into space.
The plan is for the
European Space Agency (ESA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) to call
the space station, and the Pope would talk to his followers during the
ESA time slot.
Nothing is set in stone yet as many things can change between now and May 4th.
But if the stars line up correctly, Pope Benedict XVI
would be speaking to two Italian astronauts - one of which has been on
the space station since December, and the other will be flying up on
April 29th if the NASA launch of the Endeavor space shuttle goes as
planned.
It is incredible that technology has come so far that
astronauts can keep in line with their faith so far from home.
Easter
will be coming to them this year, albeit a little late.
To receive a
personal call from the Pope himself is an amazing honor, no matter what
religion you practice.