Following Religiously

By Colby Marshall - December 6, 2012

It’s official: we’re here, we’re online, get used to it. 

Authors are constantly told an online presence is key to success, but the need for such a presence is now not only a good idea.  It’s spiritually endorsed.  Yes, I’m referring to the big event that is the Pope joining the twitterverse.  Under the verified account @Pontifex, Pope Benedict XVI will begin tweeting on December 12 when he will answer questions about faith and belief.

While some may view this as a sign the Mayans were correct and the end of the world is nigh (after all, Dick Clark is no longer here to ring in the new year, and the thoughts of His Holiness will now be condensed into 140 characters or less), I think this is a great papal move.  After all, how else can you reach the masses (pun somewhat intended) if you’re in a room without a tablet, an iphone, or a laptop?  The pope is wise (and hip.  Don’t let that hat fool you).

This has me wondering what could be next for the pope and his online presence.  Why, a pope online store, of course!  A few ideas (in case Vatican officials are out there reading and need some brilliant product thoughts) include:

• Holy Water, the official sports drink of the Vatican-- same great water taste, new blessed flavor!)
• Pope-on-a-rope--you’ll never feel cleaner than when you’ve used this soap!
• His own pope-printed edition of Soapy Soles--a foot bath so good it’ll heal your soles and your soul!  (Which, might I add that the fact that a product called Soapy Soles exists just proves to me God is real.  When writing a blog like this, a find of that caliber has to be heaven sent.). 

I’m not entirely sure what “pope-print” entails, but it sounds like something I’d buy.  After all, the only thing better than the pontiff himself is the pontiff’s image screen-printed onto a no-bend foot scrubber.

Will you follow His Holiness on twitter?  Why or why not?