Associated Press reports that Pope Benedict XVI has written his first message on Twitter, announcing the launching of the new Vatican news website, meant to aggregate important events that are presented in the other Vatican websites.
The Pope’s Twitter message appeared on Tuesday: “Dear Friends, I just launched News.va Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ! With my prayers and blessings, Benedictus XVI.” The Vatican officials said that the Pope touched on a touchpad to send the message.
The news portal was launched on June 28, for the feast of St. Peter and Paul’s day, on June 29. The date also marks the 60th anniversary of the Benedict ordination as a priest.
The first official statement regarding the portal launching was released on Saturday. The statement included the name of the portal – www.news.va – and the details regarding the launching date. In addition, the officials state that the Pope himself has been coordinating every step in the development of the website. The portal will present a selection of news from a variety of Vatican’s press: the Vatican Radio, the newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican Television Centre, the Vatican Press office and the Fides missionary agency.
The head of the project, Monsignor Claudio Maria Celli, said that the Pope himself put the website oline with just one click. This honor makes the event even more important. “This is a new way of communicating”, said Monsignor Celli. “I think that we must educate the Roman Curia of what is the real meaning of communication. Little by little they will perceive that this is the real meaning to be present, to have a relevance”. With this, he hopes the site will benefit in two ways: one is to offer fresh news about the Vatican to people all over the world. The second is to improve the state’s internal communication.
News have already been posted on the website. You can read about Pope’s most important moment in life, his scheduled trip to Spain and many more. And you can always stay in touch with the Pope via Twitter.