Rome, Italy, Apr 21, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Thousands of cell phone users in Italy received a brief message from a unique sender yesterday: Pope Benedict XVI.
The papal greeting came as a text message to all cell phone users in Italy. The message was an excerpt from his first words in St. Peter’s Square: “In the joy of the risen Lord, confident of his permanent help, let us go forward.”
The message was sent to all TIM cell phone users who subscribe to a daily service that sends text messages from the Pope. Called, “A thought for today,” the service was created two years ago in order to distribute messages from John Paul II. The service was used on April 2 and 19 to announce the death and John Paul II and the election of Benedict XVI respectively.