Denver Catholic

6 I WORLD/NATION NOVEMBER 6, 2013 I DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER Pope reaches 10 million followers on Twitter VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News)—Pope Francis has passed 10 million followers across nine different language accounts on the popular social media network Twitter, where users publish messages of 140 characters or fewer. On Oct. 27, Pope Francis tweeted, "Dear Followers I understand there are now over 10 million of you! I thank you with all my heart and ask you to continue praying for me." As of Oct. 29, the papal Twitter accounts had a total of 10,070,848 followers. The most popular account is the Spanish-language one, with more than 4 million followers. The English-language account comes in second, with 3.1 million followers. Papal Twitter accounts have also been established in Arabic, French, German, Italian, Latin, Portuguese and most recently, Polish. In July, Pope Francis was named "the most influential world leader on Twitter" according to a global communications report by Switzerland-based His closest competitor by this measure was U.S. President Barack Obama, whose tweets were re-tweeted on average 2,309 times. The pope is also the second most-followed world leader on Twitter, after President Obama, who has 39 million followers. The official "Pontifex" Twitter accounts were launched last December by Benedict XVI, who amassed 2.5 million followers during his first month and built a following of several million before his resignation at the end of February this year. Pope Francis continued Benedict's practice of sending short messages reflecting on Jesus and the Christian life after his March 13 election to the papacy. His tweets include prayers and short passages from his homilies. Claire Diaz Ortiz, Manager of Social Innovation at Twitter, told CNA in January that the pope's ability to connect with his flock on Twitter "is an inspiring fact for believers everywhere." She described the multiple PHOTO BY MARTA JIMÉNEZ/CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY language accounts as "wonderPOPE FRANCIS greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square before the Wednesday, Oct. 30 general ful examples of how one leader audience. As of Oct. 29, the papal Twitter accounts had a total of 10,070,848 followers. public relation and communi- Francis' Spanish-language English-language tweets were can connect in many different cations firm Burson-Marsteller. tweets were re-tweeted an re-tweeted by an average of languages with Twitter followers throughout the world." The report found that Pope average of 11,116 times. His 8,219 followers. Nun called 'the prison angel' dies in Mexico at 86 After 7 Active Patents 15,000 Local Installations 2,000,000 Feet on Colorado Homes! Proven Protection, GUARANTEED for Life! OF GREATER DENVER AND NORTHERN COLORADO is why the Church has come out winning." Mother Brenner was born Mary Clarke and was the mother of eight and lived in Beverly Hills prior to her conversion, which was prompted by a dream. Even before this, she had done volunteer work for * % * lus P Additional 5 OFF Catholic Register Readers ONLY! Limited Time! This offer not available anywhere else! Mention this ad! * Before irreparable loss, but from the point of view of the mission that she had, I think we have won something," Archbishop Rafael Romo Munoz of Tijuana said after receiving news of her death. "She is a woman with the characteristics of a saint. … She has the traits of a saint, and that * LOS ANGELES, (CAN)— Mother Antonia Brenner, who married and divorced twice before converting to the Catholic faith and devoting herself to prison ministry for nearly 39 years in Tijuana, died Oct. 17 at the age of 86. "Humanly speaking, this is an Owner operator and proud REGIS GRADUATE KARL SCHEIB is offering the special discount above to Catholic Register readers only! Serving Colorado for 12 Years FREE In-Home Estimate! METRO 303-816-3555 NORTHERN 970-300-5103 the poor in both Mexico and California. In 1969 she dreamt she was a prisoner at Calvary preparing to be executed. Suddenly, Jesus appeared and offered to die in her place, which she refused, saying she would never leave him no matter what happened to her. Don't Pay 2014 Prices! SAVE up to 50 % OFF* Labor & Materials! Offer expires 11/30/13 The First. The Best. The #1 Gutter Protection System In the World. *ASK FOR SENIOR DISCOUNT & BUYER BONUS* Available at time of estimate only! *Maximum available discount 50% Off 3/1/13 rate card. Call for details. Offer expires 11/30/13. After this dream, Mother Brenner decided to devote her life to the Church. Despite initial difficulties due to her status as a divorcee, in 2003 she founded the order of the Eudist Servants of the Eleventh Hour, which was founded for older women who feel called to serve the poor. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 1982 about her prison ministry, Mother Antonia said: "Something happened to me when I saw men behind bars. … when I left, I thought a lot about the men. When it was cold, I wondered if the men were warm; when it was raining, if they had shelter." "I wondered if they had medicine and how their families were doing. …when I returned to the prison to live, I felt as if I'd come home." Both for the guards and the inmates at La Mesa penitentiary, Mother Brenner was the prison angel. But behind bars she was known as "Mama." In her interview with the Times, Mother Antonia said the prisoners needed "to accept that they're wrong. They have to see the consequences. They have to feel the agony … but I do love them dearly." Mother Antonia and her Eudist Servants of the Eleventh Hour carried out their work from the Heart of Mary Home in Tijuana, where candidates for the congregation spend a period of discernment and formation before fully joining.

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