Religion News Service
VATICAN CITY, ITALY, 2011 (Religion News Service): Every Wednesday on Facebook, a new Pope is elected.
Each week in the game Vatican Wars, an impassioned struggle begins anew to choose a virtual pontiff. All players start as priests and earn “stature points” by performing tasks that include prayer, celebrating Mass and counseling their flocks. Becoming a bishop requires additional actions. A small fraction eventually qualify to become cardinals, from whose ranks popes are drawn.
The premise of Vatican Wars has drawn fire from those who think it turns religion into a popularity contest.
Others say virtual immersion in the virtuous life inspires greater devotion among Catholics, who account for about 75 percent of players. A survey of regular players of the game’s pilot version showed that Catholics were more likely to attend Mass and read the Bible in the real world after playing. The same survey showed that the game made young Catholic men more likely to consider entering the seminary, and encouraged those already enrolled to stay there.
Who knows? Someday the real pope could be someone who first held the job in a virtual capacity.
For additional details about the game, see Source above.