Those hoping for a closer connection to the Vatican from all over the world can now follow the Pope as he tweets about the Catholic Church.
Pope Benedict XVI joined micro-blogging site Twitter yesterday, sending his first tweet on Tuesday that read: "Dear Friends, I just launched News.va. Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ! With my prayers and blessings, Benedictus XVI".
The tweet announced the launch of the Vatican’s news portal, news.va. The site aggregates news from print, radio, television and online sources into one convenient site for the tech-savvy faithful.
The pontiff navigated the new site and sent the tweet himself using an iPad. The move towards social networking and information sharing has been a hallmark of Benedict’s papacy and indicates the Vatican’s growing desire to improve communication inside and outside of the Church.
The Twitter account and news portal were launched on the eve of the Feast of Peter and Paul (29th of June). The day has a special personal importance to the 84-year-old pope, today marks the 60th anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s ordination as a priest.
You can follow the pope on Twitter here.
