The Pope is launching an iPhone app on Easter Sunday to help reach the 1.5 billion Catholics worldwide.

The officially-named Vatican Observatory iPhone App follows on Pope Benedict XVI's recent pledge to try and reach more people worldwide through new technology.

The new iPhone app will give Catholics - who make up a make up a staggering 17 percent of the global population - daily inspirational and devotional messages.

The Vatican iPhone App will come loaded with daily and weekly audio and video inspirational and devotional content with bonus transcripts, scripture references and insightful commentary.

There will also be images from the Vatican Observatory and other principal sites of the Vatican, delivered by popular California priestsFather Michael Manning.

Manning, 69, is the host of a show on the mega Christian site Trinity Broadcasting Network and also the recipient of a 2006 Papal Award.