12/12/12. The last calendar date for quite a while that reads the same everywhere in the world. And it’s the historic date when Pope Benedict XVI debuted his official Twitter account, @pontifex:
Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart.
— Benedict XVI (@Pontifex) December 12, 2012
How can we celebrate the Year of Faith better in our daily lives?
— Benedict XVI (@Pontifex) December 12, 2012
We can be certain that a believer is never alone. God is the solid rock upon which we build our lives and his love is always faithful
— Benedict XVI (@Pontifex) December 12, 2012
So, y’know, Pope-type stuff. Which is cool.
And of course, Twitter responded as only Twitter can, as catalogued by Twitchy.com:
DIE!!! @pontifex
— Pawl (@PabloAragunde) December 12, 2012
Actually, that’s the only response I’m comfortable posting on my own blog. If you really need to witness the religious tolerance for yourself, go ahead. Needless to say, nobody will be rioting over it, and Obama and the State Department won’t feel any need to distance themselves from it. Some religious criticism is more equal than other religious criticism.
I just hope Pope Benedict doesn’t get addicted. On Twitter you start off like, “Wow, this thing looks really dumb. Why 140 characters? That seems arbitrary. What a bunch of losers. Well, I’ll try it, just to prove how silly it is.” Next thing you know, it’s 3 in the morning and you’re still arguing with those blind idiots on #TeamJacob. You have to pace yourself.
Once he gets into the swing of things, I really hope he starts signing off with #PopeOut.