Pope signs up for World Youth Day using tablet

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis opened the registration period for next year’s World Youth Day in Poland, using a tablet computer to sign himself up from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square during the traditional Sunday blessing.

The pontiff was joined by two young people as he extended an invitation to the world’s Roman Catholic youth to join him in Krakow from July 25-31, 2016.

The two joined Francis in prayer for the release of the Rev. Paolo Dall’Oglio, kidnapped two years ago in Syria, as well as for the release of Orthodox bishops being held “and all the other people in conflict zones who have been kidnapped.”