Pope to tweet in Latin

January 19, 2013: Pope Benedict XVI will launch his first tweets in Latin on Sunday, January 20. Latin becomes the ninth language in which papal Tweets are available, following English, Spanish, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, Polish and Arabic.

In Latin, Pope Benedict describes Twitter “Pagina publica breviloquentis” and his first tweet in the language reads: “Tuus adventus in paginam publicam Summi Pontificis Benedicti XVI breviloquentis optatissimus est” or: “Your entrance onto the public (Twitter) page of the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI is very welcome.” Pope Benedict has gained more than 2.5 million followers since officially launching his @Pontifex handle in December 2012.

More than 1,200 people had already signed up to his Twitter account: “@Pontifex.in” within the first few hours of Thursday’s announcement.

"Given the subject matter, I cannot be an objective observer and disinterested - Manlio Simonetti said in Vatican’s newspaper "L'Osservatore Romano"- because I see everything that can benefit the Latin favorably. The Latin also adapts very well to the synthesis required by the new social network, even more than English.

"It is of the same opinion the Salesian Fr Roberto Spataro, secretary of the new Pontifical Academy of Latinity: "Twitter is a tool that requires quick communication. If I say in English the corruption of the best one is horrible, in Latin means three words: corruptio optimi bad, it is a language that helps you to think with precision and simplicity. It has produced an exceptional heritage of science, wisdom and faith. "In fact Breviloquium - adds Simonetti - "is not a literal translation of twitter, but describes well the characteristics." It would also have the advantage to recall the first work of St. Bonaventure, the Breviloquium, which describes reality as a "symphony of God."