Pope sends e-mail to more than 30,000 World Youth Day participants
(Sept.10, 2008):- Pope Benedict XVI has sent a brief e-mail to more than 30,000 young
people who attended World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, or have expressed interest
in knowing more about the experience. In the Sept. 8 message, the pope greeted the
young people, offered his prayers for them and asked them to pray for the young people
of France, as he prepared to visit their country Sept. 12-15. The message was
sent through www.Xt3.com, a social networking Web site established to help World Youth
Day participants keep in touch, converse with one another online, and meet others
who were in Sydney. The text of the papal message read: "Fifty days ago, we were
together for the celebration of Mass. Today I greet you on the birthday of Mary, Mother
of the Church. Empowered by the Spirit and courageous like Mary, your pilgrimage of
faith fills the church with life! Soon I am to visit France. I ask you all to join
me in praying for the young people of France. May we all be rejuvenated in hope!"
In addition to putting the English-language message into the inbox of each registered
Xt3 member, the site provided links to translations in Italian, German, Spanish and
French. The site claimed that by Aug. 28 it had 30,000 registered users.