Pope Francis launches tweet to pray for Benedict XVI

Vatican City, 11 February 2014: On the one year anniversary of Benedict XVI’s announcement of his decision to resign from the Petrine ministry, Pope Francis has tweeted on Tuesday, asking the world to join him in prayer for the retired Pope.

The Pontiff wrote on his Twitter account @pontifex: “Today I ask you to join me in prayer for His Holiness Benedict XVI, a man of great courage and humility.”

Exactly one year ago, retired Pope Benedict XVI shocked the world when he announced to a gathering of cardinals that he was resigning his office as Bishop of Rome, an event which has not happened in almost 600 years.

Citing his advanced age as the primary factor in his decision, Benedict revealed that “after having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.”

As the Church celebrates the feast of our Lady of Lourdes, and observing the World Day of the Sick, Pope Francis greeted all the sick people exhorting them to cling to Jesus. He tweeted @pontifex: ‘I greet all those who are sick and suffering. Christ Crucified is with you; cling to him!’

The Pope has now close to 11 million followers on his Twitter account @Pontifex. And the re-tweeting of Pope’s message is reported to be reaching at least 60 million people. The Pope’s English-language handle alone has over 3 million followers. The papal tweets are published in nine languages on the micro-blogging website.
Source: VR Sedoc