The Pope’s Twitter account has been reactivated, with @pontifex announcing the selection of the new Catholic leader last night as a Twitter storm greeted the news of a new Pope.
Following contrasting reports as to whether or not the @pontifex account would be suspended altogether in the wake of Pope Benedict XVI’s abdication, the account last night declared the election of Pope Francis I.
HABEMUS PAPAM FRANCISCUM
— Pontifex (@Pontifex) March 13, 2013
Twitter experienced a tumultuous amount of activity as the world waited for, and then reacted to, the white-smoke from the Sistine Chapel.
The site revealed it saw over seven million Pope-related Tweets throughout the day as the conclave went on, peaking at 130,000 Tweets per minute upon the announcement.
Users were quick to congratulate the newly elected Pope via social media, with good wishes flowing in, including from some high profile Tweeters, such as the President of Argentina, Pope Francis’ homeland.
A su Santidad Francisco I twitter.com/CFKArgentina/s…
— Cristina Kirchner (@CFKArgentina) March 13, 2013
