RT @Talkmaster: Obama will honor the Pope's service by posting a picture of himself lighting a candle at a Catholic church.
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WhiteHousePressCorps (@whpresscorps) February 11, 2013Zing! Twitter predicted that President Obama’s statement on the news that Pope Benedict XVI will be stepping down at the end of the month would be self-focused.
Obama's aides frantically explaining to him he's not the Pope and he shouldn't reassure public that he's not resigning.—
El SOOPer!! (@SooperMexican) February 11, 2013
Has Obama made the Pope's resignation about him yet?—
JWF (D) (@JammieWF) February 11, 2013
He was late, but he did it!
Took him long enough. RT @USATODAY: Obama praises Pope Benedict XVI usat.ly/UZ1KdV—
Melissa Clouthier (@MelissaTweets) February 11, 2013
Obama: The Church plays a critical role in the US & the world, & I wish the best to those who will gather to choose [the pope's] successor.—
Sarah Pulliam Bailey (@spulliam) February 11, 2013
President Obama extends his prayers to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. The president says he will warmly remember their visit in 2009.—
Cynthia Izaguirre (@wfaaizzy) February 11, 2013
RT @HuffPostPol: Obama's statement on the Pope's resignation http://t.co/tjARDyaT—
Yanina (@catrachingos) February 11, 2013
His full statement:
Statement by the President on His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
On behalf of Americans everywhere, Michelle and I wish to extend our appreciation and prayers to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. Michelle and I warmly remember our meeting with the Holy Father in 2009, and I have appreciated our work together over these last four years. The Church plays a critical role in the United States and the world, and I wish the best to those who will soon gather to choose His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI’s successor.
On-the-ball Twitter users notice a few things.
Refresh my memory RT @HuffingtonPost: "I have appreciated our work together over these last four years" -Obama, on the Pope's resignation—
Denisse (@denisssegiron) February 11, 2013
Written like they're colleagues. “@DailyCaller: Obama release statement on Pope Benedict XVI's resignation – bit.ly/X0cx5w”—
Lisa De Pasquale (@LisaDeP) February 11, 2013
Breaking: In rare show of self-restraint, 3-sentence presidential statement on Pope only uses the pronoun "I" 4 times – bit.ly/14O29QQ—
Josh Painter (@Josh_Painter) February 11, 2013
Wait, what exactly has Obama and Pope Benedict "worked together" on? I don't remember any joint initiatives.—
Tim (@AspiringThrawn) February 11, 2013
Surprise! All about Obama. –> Obama on the Pope: 'I Have Appreciated Our Work Together Over These Last Four Years' shar.es/YGK9L—
John Ekdahl, Jr. (@JohnEkdahl) February 11, 2013
Obama praises Pope. Now, back to regularly-scheduled programming of trampling religious liberty, forcing taxpayers to pay for abortions etc—
Billy Valentine (@valentinebilly) February 11, 2013
Bingo.
