Social networks like Twitter and Facebook have a new advocate and he’s asking his billions of worldly followers to go forth through social networks to reach the nations. While Pope Benedict XIV is not at the level of Justin Bieber yet on Twitter, he hopes to continue to grow his month-old account well beyond his million and a half followers while encouraging them to spread the word of the gospel through social media. In an address given for the 47th World Communications Day, the Pope urged his followers to start participating in social networks. Some excerpts of his speech are below and the full transcript…

Don’t mess with Benedict XVI – guy is all up on this internet business like ain’t never been seen. Dude has his own YouTube channel. Heavy. But the internet is serious business, and Benedict wants us to remember as such, issuing a warning to web-goers the world over last week. His Popage cautioned internet users that the web has “numbed” young people, creating an “educational emergency – a challenge that we can and must respond to with creative intelligence.” According to AFP, the Pope claims a large number of young people “establish forms of communication that to do not increase humaneness but…

It’s what you’ve been praying for – you can now send the Pope a text. The Vatican has launched a service in Italy that allows people to send text message of support to Pope Benedict XVI. As the church reels from yet another pedophile scandal, the text service was introduced to allow catholics to show their support without being present at Saint Peter’s Square. A German priest on Saturday admitted he had beaten children at a Catholic orphanage, and is also being investigated on charges of  pedophilia. The number to send your text to is +39 335 18 63 091. Pope Benedict says he will be chillin’ at the mall…