Some surprising Papal firsts

Who was the first pope to

• appear on film:
  • Leo XIII, [1878 – 1903] in 1896.
• make a radio broadcast:
  • Pius XI, [1922 – 1939] c. 1931.
• have a ‘full-length’ movie made about him:
  • Pius XII, [1939 – 1958], in 1942 the movie called ‘Pastor Angelus‘ (angelic shepard) per the Malachyprophecy for that papacy.
• speak on TV:
  • Pius XII, [1939 – 1958].
• allow TV cameras into the Vatican:
  •  John XXIII, 1961 to film a day in the life of  John XXIII
• fly in an airplane (when pope):
  • Paul VI, [1963 – 1978].
• use the Internet:
  • John Paul II , [1978-2005]
• do a question-and-answer (Q&A) on TV:
  • Benedict XVI, [2005 ->] on Good Friday, April 23, 2011
• make a call to space (at least to talk with other humans):
  • Benedict XVI, [2005 ->] on May 4, 2011 to two Italian astronauts on the International Space Station.

How many could you identify?

Visit the Popes and Papacy web page for more background on these events.