Late last month, the Vatican unveiled the latest component of what’s become an increasingly sophisticated digital presence for the centuries old religious institution– a smartphone app. “The Pope App,” as it’s called, is designed to be a one-stop-shop for anyone seeking to connect with The Pope via smartphone.

Using The Pope App, you can scroll through The Pope’s messages, watch his speeches, connect with the Vatican on social media and even take a live look into Saint Peter’s Square via webcam. After a few moments browsing, it’s hard not to wonder just what went into getting the thing live. The force behind the app, as it turns out, is a mid-sized Spanish agency called 101 whose three year relationship with...