Pope to call space station in papal 1st

[April 22, 2011]  VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope Benedict XVI will be in satellite contact with two Italian astronauts aboard the International Space Station in what would be the first papal call to space.

The Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano reported Friday that the hookup will happen on May 4 when Shuttle Endeavor docks with the station.

Two Italian astronauts will be meeting up: one a space station resident; the other, a visitor from the shuttle.

One of the two Italians will be carrying a silver medal donated by the pope. Others on the space station are Russian and American.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.