Pope Benedict XVI may make first call to space on May 4

A NASA official has revealed that Pope Benedict XVI may make a special call to the International Space Station during the upcoming flight of the space shuttle Endeavour.
 
In what would be the first papal call to space, Pope Benedict XVI will speak to two Italian astronauts onboard the space station on May 4.
 
NASA is discussing the potential call with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Italian Space Agency (Agenzia Spaziale Italian or ASI).
 
"No final decision has been made - it is under discussion," Fox News quoted NASA spokesman Rob Navias as telling SPACE.com.
 
"We are discussing with ESA and ASI the potential of the pontiff calling the crew in a scheduled event slot that belongs to ESA.
 
"Part of what will drive this, in whether or not it comes to fruition, is whether or not we launch on April 29, what the Pope's schedule looks like and whether there is any other opportunities if we launch later than the 29th," Navias added.
 
According to the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, if the Endeavour launches as scheduled next Friday, the call may occur on May 4.