TheJournal.ie uses cookies. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Click here to find out more »
Dublin: 9 °C Sunday 26 May, 2013

“I thank you from my heart” – Pope Francis sends his first tweet

Pope Francis’s first tweet from the @Pontifex account was a break from the more formal style of tweets sent from the account under Pope Benedict XVI.

Pope Francis waves to the crowd in St Peter's Square after saying the Angelus this morning
Pope Francis waves to the crowd in St Peter's Square after saying the Angelus this morning
Image: AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky

POPE FRANCIS HAS sent his first tweet since being elected pontiff on Wednesday night, thanking his followers and asking them to pray for him.

In a break from the more formal style of the previous tweets sent from the account under Pope Benedict XVI, the tweet was signed “Pope Francis”.

“Dear friends, I thank you from my heart and I ask you to continue to pray for me. Pope Francis” the tweet read. It has already been retweeted more than 8,000 times in less than 45 minutes.

The @Pontifex account , which was used briefly by Pope Benedict between December and February before he stepped down, has been wiped of all previous tweets, including the announcement of Pope Francis’s election on Wednesday when it tweeted: “HABEMUS PAPAM FRANCISCUM”.

The new pope led his first Sunday Angelus from a Vatican balcony this morning as tens of thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square for the event.

Pope Francis tweet

(@Pontifex/Twitter)

Read: Pope Francis gives rare insight into what happened at conclave >

Read: The Ordinary Pontiff: Pope Francis pays hotel bill, carries his own luggage >

Read next:

Comments (19 Comments)

  • I’m starting to like him more and more :)

    Reply
    • Yes but has he turned green for St Patricks day?

      Reply
    • Why does this Pope indulge in public prayer ? Surely that’s hypocritical if he thinks the teachings of Jesus are true Matthew 6:5 – 7

      5. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

      Jesus says you must definitely not pray as the hypocrites pray.

      6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
      7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

      Reply
  • beginning to like this guy too and I don’t like centralised power.
    Wants the church to concentrate on the poor ;Good.
    Asks us to pray for him ; Humility ? ;good
    Chose Francis of Assisi over Francis xsavier , druid over zealot :good !
    Two more obstacles for him to clear and then he gets me back ;
    1. The 3rd. Secret of Fatima
    2. The opening of the Vatican Library and the golden horde stolen from the island of Saints and Scholars and return of the artifacts , there’s something among them we Irish need to see !

    Reply
    • Bridget 17/03/13 #

      Sounds interesting…What do we need to see??

      Reply
    • The loot from our celtic royal burial chambers , why do you think monks were always digging in the fields?
      Personally there are a few stones that I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on the treasure is irrelevant really except for proving the invasion theory regarding celts , but they probably melted alot if not all of it down . It takes alot of gold to make all those croziers and bishops rings etc.
      Unless I’m mistaken gold can be tested regarding purity and thus country of origin. We all know Ireland is full of gold , the treasure is only important to me from the perspective of proving that many of our bogs are ancient strip mines of the celts ! Large volume of gold – large volume of scarped out holes in the ground which subsequently fill with bog !
      Interesting thing about gold that a friend told me ; apparently gold is one of the last metals formed as a star goes supernova!

      Reply
  • He’s a cool pope, he poked me on Facebook earlier!

    Reply
  • He seems like a nice man but his words of humanity must extend to respect for those of different faith , opinions on social issues sexual orientation and those who have been ostracised by his Church collectively over the years . Now that will truly be a nice man

    Reply
  • Was he the pope that st malachi prophesised would be the last.

    Reply
    • @Shay.
      Let’s hope so!

      Reply
    • not necesaarily ; Nostradamus predicte a “black pope” ; this ties in with the jesuits .
      St. Malachy, the first Irishman to be beatified by the Roman branch of the catholic church predicted up as far as St. Benedict in terms of continuation!
      Malachy predicted that Peter the Roman would be that last pope before the seven hilled city was destroyed ; one immediately thinks of Rome but I have seen Jerusalem suggested as well as a seven hilled city

      Reply
    • Dermot
      And the Mayan calendar ran out of dates so the end of the World was predicted …..yawn.

      Reply
    • Peter . I didn’t say I believed any of it , someone asked a question and I provided the answer , it’s called being helpful .
      Yawn now see what you’ve done those yawns are bloody contagious!

      Reply
  • Taking the bus and paying his own bill, reminds one of the PDs not taking their pensions while working, meaningless ,
    but I like it.
    Interesting first tweet is to pray for him and not world peace, end to hunger or that our children may have safe childhoods
    Amen

    Reply
  • stephen 18/03/13 #

    If I did pray, why would I pray for him, he’s pampered and in good health. If I honestly thought prayers did any good I’d pray for someone who’s suffering and in need of help.

    Reply

Add New Comment