Pope on Twitter: Seeing is believing
Watch a video that shows the historic moment when Pope Benedict joined the Twitter world.
Pope makes tweet history
Now may be a good time to follow Pope Benedict XVI – on Twitter.
The pontiff (pictured here in an AP photo) made tweet history this week by writing his first tweet on an iPad and joining the world of ever-popular world of Twitter: “Dear Friends, I just launched News.va. Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ! With my prayers and blessings, Benedictus XVI”.
The pope’s tweet comes at a momentous time.
First, it announced a new Vatican news portal.
Also, it was launched for the feast day of St. Peter and Paul, which falls on today, June 29. Today is also the 60th anniversary of of Pope Benedict’s ordination as a priest.
There is a contingent of Oklahomans in Rome joining in the celebrations for these occasions. The Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, the archbishop for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, is in Rome to receive his pallium from the pope and there are many Oklahomans and Kansans joining him on his pilgrimage.
Read the Associated Press story on the pope’s historic tweet here: “My tweet lord”
Vatican tour program finds use for technology
What do you get when you mix your typical Vatican tour guide with technology?
An iPod Vatican tour program being unveiled this week.
The Associated Press is reporting that the Holy See’s pilgrim agency is offering visitors to the Vatican museums an iPod which has a Vatican tour application designed to guide them through the vast, historic museums that draw tons of people every day.
Apparently, it’s a pilot program. It’s free, the AP reports. Visitors must leave their passport or some other similar document in exchange for the iPod, for security purposes. Then they are free to roam the museums with their trusty iPod guide in hand.
Read more about it here: Vatican tour meets technology
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Pope has Good Friday TV chat
Pope Benedict XVI altered his typical Good Friday routine by appearing on a televised special. 
The Associated Press reports that the pontiff fielded questions during a Good Friday broadcast on Italian TV.
According to the report, the questions were pre-selected. One came from a Japanese girl who asked the pope about suffering in the world.
Read the story below.
The Associated Press: Pope on TV: Pontiff answers questions on Good Friday
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Countdown to PJP sainthood begins
The countdown to sainthood for Pope John Paul II probably began as soon as the 
faithful at his funeral Mass began enthusiastically calling for the new pope to bestow the honor on the beloved pontiff.
It seems the Vatican has initiated a more formal countdown of sorts. It has launched a new Facebook page focusing on the upcoming beatification of Pope John Paul II (pictured in AP Photo):
Also clips of Pope John Paul II may be seen on the Vatican’s YouTube channel for beatification: www.youtube.com/johnpaul2
The beatification ceremony is slated for May 1 and is expected to draw many, many of the faithful to Rome.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
New posting: Celibacy and the priesthood
The issue of celibacy and the Roman Catholic priesthood was the subject of a recent USA Today story.
The shortage of priests has brought the priests’ celibacy requirement to the fore again. Catholic priests are forbidden to marry but the USA Today report ponders whether the pope (pictured) would consider eliminating that prohibition to solve the priest shortage.
The Sunday Oklahoman features a story about the priest shortage in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. In the story, the Rev. William Novak, vocations director for the archdiocese, shares his thoughts about the impact the celibacy requirement may be having on men considering the priesthood.
Check out the Sunday Oklahoman for his comments.
To read the USA Today story, click here: Might Pope Benedict Consider Married Priests Again?
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
In support of the pope
Pope Benedict XVI, who celebrates his 83rd birthday today, has received support from thousands of people, in the aftermath of his recent trip to Africa.
The pope was criticized for making a statement about the ineffectiveness of condom promotion in stemming the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa, but four international pro-life organizations have gathered 45,000 signatures in his support.
Kath.net based in Austria; Human Life International in Virginia; Human Life International in Europa (based in Poland); and Vida Humana Internacional in Miami, have joined forces to gather support for Pope Benedict.
In a recent news release, the organizations said they have gathered 45,000 signatures thus far in support of the pope.
“What the Holy Father said was absolutely true,” Joseph Meaney, Human Life International’s director of International Coordination, said in the news release. “It is an embarrassment to all who have so irresponsibly and often hatefully opposed him that what he said is verified by any honest examination of the evidence about what has worked historically to lower AIDS transmission rates in Africa.”
The campaigns of support will continue through May 1, at which point the letters and signatures will be presented to the Holy See.
For more information, go online to In Support of the Pope.
(AP Photo above: Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful on Easter Monday at his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo in the hills south of Rome.)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Debating Pope’s remarks on condoms
To say that Pope Benedict XVI’s recent comments about the distribution of condoms caused a stir is an understatment.
Anytime the pontiff mentions this sensitive subject is draws attention.
His latest remarks on the issue, made during this week’s papal trip to Africa, are no different.
The Associated Press reported that the pope told reporters on his flight to Cameroon that a responsible and moral attitude toward sex would help fight AIDS, not the distribution of condoms.
His remarks brought both support… :
“Anyone who thinks that condom distribution, eduction and/or research is going to solve a problem which is mostly a function of behavioral recklessness is positively clueless. Not only that, such persons unwittingly contribute to the problem by distracting attention and resources away from that which works,” Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League For Religious and Civil Rights, said in a prepared statement.
… and opposition:
“We call on the pope to revisit the teaching on condoms with a view to lifting the ban at the earliest possible moment. In his review, he should include experts who are unequivocal that condoms can help prevent the spread of HIV, like UNAIDS, the World Health Organization and HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations around the world,” Jon O’Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, said in a statement.
Meanwhile …
George Wirnkar, director of outreach for Human Life International’s Francophone Africa Region, said the media missed the “true” story behind Pope Benedict’s African trip. Wirnkar expressed surprise over the “furor” over the pope’s remarks:
“I would say that this problem of AIDS canot be overcome with advertising slogans. If the soul is lacking, if Africans do not help one another, the scourge cannot be resolved by distributing condoms; quite the contrary, we risk worsening the problem,” Wirnkar said in a statement.
“The solution can only come through a twofold commitment: firstly, the humanization of sexuality, in other words a spiritual and human renewal bringing a new way of behaving towards one another; and secondly true friendship, above all with those who are suffering, a readiness — even through personal sacrifice — to be present with those who suffer.
“Perhaps the historic first visit of the Holy Father to Africa and his providential first stop in Yaounde, Cameroon should herald an era where the authentic voice of Africans is heard rather than the imposed views of Western press who do not speak for the people of Africa — the continent of hope.”
———-
Reading the comments made by this diverse trio, it is obvious that the issue of condom distribution to combat AIDS continues to spark debate.
(AP PHOTO above: Pope Benedict XVI greets the crowd upon his arrival at Luanda International Airport in Angola, today.)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Pope’s message for Lent 2009
It’s the first Sunday of Lent.
See what Pope Benedict has to say in his message for Lent: Lent 2009
(AP PHOTO: Pope Benedict XVI is seen in Santa Sabina Basilica for the Ash Wednesday service in Rome on Feb. 25. Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of the Christian season of Lent.)
Look for more Lent-related blog postings here on the Religion and Values blog in the days ahead.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Obama inauguration: Pope sends telegram
A congratulatory telegram was sent to President Barack Obama from Pope Benedict.
The Religion News Service reports that the pople sent the telegram urging Obama to “promote understanding, cooperation and peace among the nations.”
The pope said he hoped that Obama’s leadership would foster the “building of a truly just and free society, marked by respect for the dignity, equality and rights of each of its members, especially the poor, the outcast and those who have no voice.”
“I pray that you will be confirmed in your resolve to promote understanding, cooperation and peace among the nations, so that all may share in the banquet of life which God wills to set for the whole human family,” Benedict wrote.
The RNS reports that according to Vatican protocol, the pope sends greetings to all new heads of state when they take office.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
