Techno Pope texts the faithful

Lara Sinclair
July 17, 2008

HE'S known in some circles as the "techno Pope", but not because of a love of dance music -- his holiness is more of a Beethoven or Mozart fan.

Rather, it's Pope Benedict XVI's penchant for text-messaging the masses, his iPod (with the Papal coat of arms engraved on the back) and the Catholic Church's increasing use of social networking media that have earned him the moniker, according to World Youth Day spokesman Father Mark Podesta.

An undisclosed number of WYD followers have opted to receive a text message about 10am each day.

Yesterday's message assured followers that "the Holy Spirit gave the Apostles and gives u the power boldly 2 proclaim that Christ is risen! -- BXVI".

"It's not the first SMS (Pope Benedict) has sent but it is the first time they've done it every day for a World Youth Day," Podesta says. "He composes them himself. In some circles he's known as the techno Pope." the rest