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Pope plans Twitter Q&A to launch @pontifex account | Pope plans Twitter Q&A to launch @pontifex account |
(8 days later) | |
Twitter is known for its spontaneity, with off-the-cuff tweets that can become a source of regret. That's not likely to be the case with @pontifex, the pope's new Twitter handle. | Twitter is known for its spontaneity, with off-the-cuff tweets that can become a source of regret. That's not likely to be the case with @pontifex, the pope's new Twitter handle. |
The Vatican has announced that the long-awaited papal Twitter account will open for business at midday on 12 December, leaving little room for random ramblings by the pope, and will kick off with a Q&A session to show it truly is his voice. | The Vatican has announced that the long-awaited papal Twitter account will open for business at midday on 12 December, leaving little room for random ramblings by the pope, and will kick off with a Q&A session to show it truly is his voice. |
"With the Obama White House, a tweet will come out every now and then that is actually written by the president," said Monsignor Paul Tighe, secretary of the pontifical council for social communication (PCSC). "Here, every tweet will be seen and approved by the pope." | "With the Obama White House, a tweet will come out every now and then that is actually written by the president," said Monsignor Paul Tighe, secretary of the pontifical council for social communication (PCSC). "Here, every tweet will be seen and approved by the pope." |
The papal account is the latest attempt by the Vatican to tackle new media, with a YouTube channel and the Pope2you website already set up. Benedict XVI sent his first tweet from the Vatican's Twitter feed last year. | The papal account is the latest attempt by the Vatican to tackle new media, with a YouTube channel and the Pope2you website already set up. Benedict XVI sent his first tweet from the Vatican's Twitter feed last year. |
From Monday, the Pope App will be available free from the Apple Store, offering alerts of pending homilies as well as video footage from a series of webcams around the Vatican. | From Monday, the Pope App will be available free from the Apple Store, offering alerts of pending homilies as well as video footage from a series of webcams around the Vatican. |
Father Claudio Maria Celli, the head of the PCSC, has likened tweets to the gospels, but warned on Monday that the pope's 140-character missives would not be "dogmatic positions", saying: "A conversation is one thing, an encyclical is another". Followers would get "pearls of wisdom", he said. | Father Claudio Maria Celli, the head of the PCSC, has likened tweets to the gospels, but warned on Monday that the pope's 140-character missives would not be "dogmatic positions", saying: "A conversation is one thing, an encyclical is another". Followers would get "pearls of wisdom", he said. |
The Vatican press officer, Father Federico Lombardi, said Benedict would start by tweeting excerpts from his weekly general audiences in English, with translations in seven other languages, including Arabic, being offered. | The Vatican press officer, Father Federico Lombardi, said Benedict would start by tweeting excerpts from his weekly general audiences in English, with translations in seven other languages, including Arabic, being offered. |
The pope, 85, would not be tapping out the tweets or hitting the send button, nor would he be following other tweeters, said Greg Burke, media adviser to the Vatican's secretariat of state. "He is not the kind of person who will be checking his tweets at lunch," he said. "But the tweets will be the pope's words." | The pope, 85, would not be tapping out the tweets or hitting the send button, nor would he be following other tweeters, said Greg Burke, media adviser to the Vatican's secretariat of state. "He is not the kind of person who will be checking his tweets at lunch," he said. "But the tweets will be the pope's words." |
The pontiff was waking the rest of the Vatican, said Burke, who said an 83-year-old priest had told him: "If the pope is going on Twitter then I had better too." | The pontiff was waking the rest of the Vatican, said Burke, who said an 83-year-old priest had told him: "If the pope is going on Twitter then I had better too." |
An official from Twitter who was present for the launch of the account said Twitter had actively courted the Vatican. "As a company it is important to have influential leaders and he is possibly the most influential religious leader," said Claire Diaz-Ortiz, head of social innovation, who said the pope's account had already drawn 14,000 followers minutes after the handle had been announced. | An official from Twitter who was present for the launch of the account said Twitter had actively courted the Vatican. "As a company it is important to have influential leaders and he is possibly the most influential religious leader," said Claire Diaz-Ortiz, head of social innovation, who said the pope's account had already drawn 14,000 followers minutes after the handle had been announced. |
Twitter was apparently taking care of its latest customer on Monday. An Italian tweeter who has successfully impersonated a series of famous people said he had drawn 1,484 followers to a fake papal Twitter feed, @_pontifex, only to see it shut down after an hour. "That was an incredibly rapid reaction by Twitter," said Tommaso De Benedetti. | Twitter was apparently taking care of its latest customer on Monday. An Italian tweeter who has successfully impersonated a series of famous people said he had drawn 1,484 followers to a fake papal Twitter feed, @_pontifex, only to see it shut down after an hour. "That was an incredibly rapid reaction by Twitter," said Tommaso De Benedetti. |
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Dalai Lama @DalaiLama 5,636,818 followers | Dalai Lama @DalaiLama 5,636,818 followers |
Co-operation comes from friendship, friendship comes from trust, and trust comes from kind-heartedness. | Co-operation comes from friendship, friendship comes from trust, and trust comes from kind-heartedness. |
Barack Obama, US president @barackobama 24,059,594 followers | Barack Obama, US president @barackobama 24,059,594 followers |
We're all in this together. That's how we campaigned, and that's who we are. Thank you. -bo [on election night] | We're all in this together. That's how we campaigned, and that's who we are. Thank you. -bo [on election night] |
Hugo Chávez, Venezuelan president @chavezcandanga 3,756,206 followers | Hugo Chávez, Venezuelan president @chavezcandanga 3,756,206 followers |
The electoral campaign for the Governorates has started! On the popular offensive and to a new Revolutionary victory! | The electoral campaign for the Governorates has started! On the popular offensive and to a new Revolutionary victory! |
Abdullah Gül, Turkish prime minister @cbabdullahgul 2,531,076 followers | Abdullah Gül, Turkish prime minister @cbabdullahgul 2,531,076 followers |
At the expense of getting wet in the rain, Çankırılılar showed great love and enthusiasm. Thank you very much, everybody. pic.twitter.com/IZhSRV9V | At the expense of getting wet in the rain, Çankırılılar showed great love and enthusiasm. Thank you very much, everybody. pic.twitter.com/IZhSRV9V |
Queen Rania of Jordan @QueenRania 2,437,969 followers | Queen Rania of Jordan @QueenRania 2,437,969 followers |
800m people can't read and two-thirds of them are women. Literacy is inseparable from prosperity! #InternationalLiteracyDay | 800m people can't read and two-thirds of them are women. Literacy is inseparable from prosperity! #InternationalLiteracyDay |
David Cameron, UK prime minister @David_Cameron 173,710 followers | David Cameron, UK prime minister @David_Cameron 173,710 followers |
I'm delighted by the news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting a baby. They will make wonderful parents. | I'm delighted by the news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting a baby. They will make wonderful parents. |
Binyamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister @netanyahu 126,117 followers | Binyamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister @netanyahu 126,117 followers |
#Israel is prepared to live in peace with a #Palestinian state, but for #peace to endure, Israel's security must be protected | #Israel is prepared to live in peace with a #Palestinian state, but for #peace to endure, Israel's security must be protected |
Julia Gillard, Australian prime minister @JuliaGillard 313,658 followers | Julia Gillard, Australian prime minister @JuliaGillard 313,658 followers |
Acting on equal pay. 150,000 workers in the social and community sector, mostly women, get a pay rise today. TeamJG | Acting on equal pay. 150,000 workers in the social and community sector, mostly women, get a pay rise today. TeamJG |
Cristina Fernández, Argentinan president @CFKArgentina 1,437,344 followers | Cristina Fernández, Argentinan president @CFKArgentina 1,437,344 followers |
I pledge as President to keep fighting with all my strength, with you, to defend the interests of our people. | I pledge as President to keep fighting with all my strength, with you, to defend the interests of our people. |
Dmitry Medvedev, Russian prime minister @MedvedevRussiaE 456,037 followers | Dmitry Medvedev, Russian prime minister @MedvedevRussiaE 456,037 followers |
No one rides bicycles in Vietnam anymore... http://instagr.am/p/RuSN0ig_Ae/ | No one rides bicycles in Vietnam anymore... http://instagr.am/p/RuSN0ig_Ae/ |
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