World Vignettes

Vatican lends iPods to pilgrims to cut noise

ROME: The Vatican is betting an iPod beats Shush! in lowering the tour guide noise level in basilicas. It will even lend you one for free. From a tiny booth in the back of St. John in Lateran,the Holy Sees pilgrim agency has been quietly asking tourists if they want to tour Romes oldest basilica with an iPod in hand loaded with an app specially designed to access the places art and Christian history. Its a bid to cut down on the noise as well as to appeal to the young,the Rev. Caesar Atuire,CEO of the pilgrim agency,said.