CHRISTIANS are being invited to “bless” families and friends through a new mobile app, Godblessyoo, launched in the UK on Tuesday.

The technology allows users to apply a sign — a cross, ichthys, or heart — over a photograph on their smartphone or tablet. The “God-blessed” image can then be posted on social media, or by email, or text, with a short message, and can be stored in a private “blessbox” folder on the app.

“The main benefit of Godblessyoo is to bring people together, to create social relationships by sending loving, hopeful, and positive messages during sometimes difficult times,” a spokesperson said. “Using Godblessyoo is thanking God for a simple joy in your life or an important event; it is also giving God’s blessings to somebody.”

The app is also being marketed as a “tool” to bring a new generation of young people to the Christian faith: “Godblessyoo gives a new opportunity to evangelise.”

The chief executive of the company that founded the app, Sébastien Poncelet, had previously worked as a composer in the video-game and advertising industries, near Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, in the RC diocese of Rouen, France.

His parish priest, Fr Geoffroy de la Tousche, of Saint John Paul II of Dieppe parish, acted as a “spiritual guide” for the project. “Everyone can use Godblessyoo,” he said. “Everybody can spread the Good News and show their family and friends how much they care for them.”

Godblessyoo was first released in French-speaking countries, and is now available to download on the Apple App Store, and Google Play.

www.godblessyoo.com