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."
As the Catholic church attempts to reach younger audiences in their preferred media, it has also launched an official World Youth Day social networking website, located at www.xt3.com.
The site -- whose web address is intended to signify Christ in the third millennium -- aims to give people the chance to participate in forums, groups and discussions about relevant issues.
Benedict XVI doesn't have a profile on the site but registered users can befriend Cardinal George Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney. It doesn't reveal how many friends he has amassed so far.
"People can ask a priest a question," Podesta says.
"They can say what they are praying for. They can add friends."
Telstra, the official telecommunications provider for WYD, is providing digital prayer walls, which allow people to send a text message that will then appear on giant screens around Sydney.
Advertisers including Telstra, Qantas, Mercedes-Benz and News Limited (publisher of The Australian) have helped the event raise $20 million in sponsorship funds.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24031122-26077,00.html
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