Pope Benedict Makes His YouTube Debut

Vatican begins series of weekly video updates

By Sam Biddle, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 23, 2009 2:53 PM CST

(Newser) – Pope Benedict XVI began his planned series of YouTube video releases today. The pope’s official channel already includes clips from the Vatican media service, and will later offer weekly updates featuring Benedict’s meetings with dignitaries, papal audiences, and recordings of daily events, reports the Italian news agency ANSA. The church hopes to provide translated copies in English, German, and Spanish.

''We are convinced that there are people interested in the pope's message and that they, in their search for the meaning of life, are among the many who surf the Web. It is for them that we have opened a YouTube channel,'' said the Vatican radio director, noting that the pope is "very pleased” with the YouTube channel.

[Images (4)]

[Videos (1)]

A reporter films a monitor showing Pope Benedict XVI on the Vatican's YouTube channel, presented during a press conference at the Vatican, Friday, Jan. 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

This screenshot downloaded from YouTube in London on Friday, Jan. 23, 2009 shows the Vatican's channel on YouTube, the video-sharing Website. (AP Photo)

Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday Jan. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful at Epiphany mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Tuesday Jan. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

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Here's the video of clips (Not much dialog, but what's there is not in English.) (YouTube)

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Pope Benedict Makes His YouTube Debut