Interview with Engineer Luigi Calcagni, Head of the Internet Service Provider Service of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems
The new app for learning about the Governatorate
It is aimed at everyone interested in following the life and institutional activities of the State of Vatican City through an official, direct and reliable channel of information. This is the new app launched last January 3 to make the contents of the institutional website www.vaticanstate.va more accessible on mobile devices. Engineer Luigi Calcagni, Head of the Internet Service Provider Service of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems, explains this in an interview with www.vaticanstate.va.
How did the idea for this information app come about?
The idea arose from the desire of the Governing Bodies of the State of Vatican City to offer simpler, more immediate access to the information on the institutional website www.vaticanstate.va, which is more in line with contemporary communication methods. In a context in which information is increasingly consumed via mobile devices, the app represents a natural tool for bringing people closer to official news, ensuring timeliness, clarity and continuity of information.
What are the main features of the app?
The app offers constantly updated access to institutional news and communications, complemented by push notifications that allow users to receive the most relevant updates in real time. Navigation has been designed to be simple and optimized for smartphones and tablets, with particular attention to usability and accessibility of content. Within the app there are various sections, including the saint of the day, news, interviews, videos, and links to other websites of the Governatorate, such as the Commercialization of Philately and Numismatics (CFN), the Vatican Museums, the Vatican Pharmacy, Vatican Post, the Pontifical Villas, and the Vatican Observatory, thus offering comprehensive and well-structured information.
How important are usability and accessibility in your project?
Usability and accessibility play a central role. From the very early stages of design, the goal was to create an intuitive, inclusive tool that is easy for everyone to use. Making institutional content clear and accessible means promoting more effective communication and responding concretely to the needs of a broad and diverse community.
Who is your main target audience?
The app is aimed at all those interested in following the life and institutional activities of the State of Vatican City: the faithful, pastoral workers, institutional staff, scholars, and more generally anyone who wishes to have an official, direct, and reliable channel of information. It is a tool designed to be available on a daily basis for those who want to stay informed, wherever they may be.
Are you planning new features or expansions?
Yes, the app was conceived as a dynamic platform in continuous evolution. Further developments and features are under consideration that could enrich the user experience, expand the available content, and strengthen interaction, always in keeping with reliability and coherence with the institutional mission.
What are the next goals after the launch?
In the near future, the main objective is to consolidate the use of the app, monitor its proper functioning, and gather useful elements for its improvement. At the same time, the intention is to strengthen integration with other institutional communication channels, so that the app becomes a stable point of reference for official information.
What message would you like to leave to those discovering it for the first time?
This initiative is part of the broader path of digital innovation promoted by the Governatorate of the State of Vatican City, with the aim of fostering transparency, participation, and increasingly effective dissemination of institutional information. The app aims to be a modern, inclusive, and reliable tool, capable of bringing institutions closer to people and accompanying them simply in learning about the life and activities of the Vatican State.
