SW News: While many are acquainted with the fact that Benedict XVI was one of the greatest theologians and an astute thinker, not many are aware that he was a pontiff who embraced technology. He did not shy away from using an iPad, creating a Twitter account, or conversing with astronauts in space via video conference.

He became the first pope to have a Twitter account, which was launched on December 12, 2012. The former pope launched his account @Pontifex by dragging his finger on an iPad screen.

Benedict XVI’s maiden tweet was a comment on the catechesis of that day. Later, its editions were launched in Italian, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Polish and Arabic.

Not content with creating a Twitter account, Benedict also initiated #askpontifex (Ask the Pontiff) in which he encouraged questions from believers. To each question, he gave a brief answer in 140 characters. By the time he relinquished the throne of St Peter, he had 3 million followers on Twitter.

He also created history by becoming the first pope to create email IDs and he had six of them in English, Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and German. By granting an interview to the Polish television channel TVP from the Vatican in 2005, Benedict did become the first pontiff to appear in a TV interview. His predecessor, on the other hand, was content with issuing written replies to questions that were sent to him. In the maiden interview, he spoke mostly about Pope St John Paul II.

The following year, he granted yet another interview to television channels from his homeland while he was staying in Castel Gandolfo. This was ahead of his visit to his beloved Bavaria in September of that year. He also grabbed headlines in May 2011 by interacting with astronauts in outer space by means of videoconference. Following the arrival of Endeavor space shuttle, at the International Space Station, he spoke with the astronauts.

When he asked them if they were able to reflect on the Creator and find time to pray, Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori replied in the affirmative. Benedict XVI spoke with Paulo Nespoli, the other Italian on board, and promised to pray for his mother who passed away recently.

Benedict XVI also became the first pontiff to get a ride in an electric car. In September 2012, he got into a Renault Kangoo van having an electric motor that allows traveling 170 km without recharging. It was indeed a gift of the automobile company to the Vatican.