Pope Francis has another way for people to chat with him about mission. It’s called MissioBot, created especially for people, like younger Catholics, who are digitally connected.
“MissioBot is the newest entry point into a place of encounter,” said Monica Yehle, director of communications and outreach for the Pontifical Mission Society of the United States. “Digital technology using Facebook Messenger simulates ‘conversations’ to tell about the lifesaving work of Catholic missionaries around the world.”
Facebook Messenger has 1.2 billion users worldwide, she said, “so this broadens the reach for mission encounter. The technology for text messaging allows us to invite people anywhere, like Minnesota or New York, and connect them to a mission community in Kenya, for example, or all over the globe where support and prayer and interaction are needed.”
Through these conversations on Facebook Messenger, MissioBot introduces real missionaries and the communities they serve, and motivates participants to act on behalf of their brothers and sisters in need. Besides learning about the mission needs, participants are encouraged to pray and donate to support their continued success.
“Every encounter,” Yehle said, “begins with meeting people and talking. Prayer and financial support come after that.”
The MissioBot, she said, also draws people to the missio.org website that Pope Francis launched in 2013. The website offers a direct relationship to projects in vulnerable communities in local mission dioceses of Africa, Asia and around the world.
“On the website,” Yehle said, “project leaders post concerns that are needed right then and respond to online comments and questions. Monies contributed go 100 percent to a mission.”
To start a “chat” with the pope: Open the Facebook Messenger app on a mobile phone. Find and select “Scan Code.” Then scan the circular photo of Pope Francis surrounded by the app code which begins the conversation (the image, above). The chat can be done in either English or Spanish.