As the final hours of his papacy wind down, Pope Benedict XVI departed the Vatican for the papal retreat and sent his final tweet from the @Pontifex account. The pope thanked followers for their “love and support” and wished them the “joy that comes from putting Christ at the centre of your lives.”
BREAKING: Benedict XVI leaves Vatican for last time as pope, flies by helicopter to papal retreat. -MM
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 28, 2013
Photo: Pope Benedict XVI greeted on the tarmack after landing safely at Castel Gandolfo pic.twitter.com/IeoOgEmeCx
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) February 28, 2013
The pope was the target of daily venom during his short tenure on Twitter, and his last day was no exception.
https://twitter.com/GreenBudAtheist/status/307160152816115712
RT @Pontifex: May you always experience the joy that comes from putting child anus at the centre of your lives.
— A Blade (@justacword) February 28, 2013
In addition to repulsive fake retweets, some of Twitter’s slimiest gutter sludge gave the pope a predictable sendoff laced with vulgarities and death wishes.
https://twitter.com/NegroLuvKFC/status/307142992056160257
https://twitter.com/clayfisher/status/307165758339817472
BREAKING: @Pontifex is the name of Pope B's new gay club at his retreat.
— Legal G (@faithomatic) February 28, 2013
@Pontifex fuck you!
— LoneWolf Ideologist™ (@Harumancer) February 28, 2013
. @Pontifex Go fuck yourself.
— jonas (@totallynotjonas) February 28, 2013
https://twitter.com/AlParklar/status/307159992287510529
It's been a good run Pope Benedict XVI. We'll miss you. Wine spritzers and little boys await your arrival
— SDZ (@Lanatural29) February 28, 2013
@Pontifex may you always hate gays women's rights and the sexual choices of little boys! Help the poor, leave the rest alone.
— brian s bembridge (@bsbpyt) February 28, 2013
https://twitter.com/thenamelessbat/status/307162878258081792
@Pontifex If hell existed that's where you'd be going. Go fuck yourself.
— Kiltro (@kiltro) February 28, 2013
So @Pontifex has left the building. Good riddance to the corrupt, child rape-enabling, nazi fucker. #catholic #god #jesus
— Peter Phillips (@Rati0nality) February 28, 2013
.@Pontifex Don't let the door hit you in the ass, old man. Enjoy your gay sex scandal.
— Xenomorph Nazi Punch (@Vodstok) February 28, 2013
The Tweet I want to see today: Pope Benedict XVI admits that his retirement allows him more free time to fuck kids, rather than rest.
— Mark (@Mark_SaorAlba) February 28, 2013
@Pontifex I'll enjoy it as much as you do alter boys
— Chris Adler (@adler_chris) February 28, 2013
https://twitter.com/piztoff/status/307162047005732864
. @Pontifex Thank you for nothing. May you come to the conclusion that it was wrong all along to tell other people how to live their lives.
— Anatol Stefanowitsch (@astefanowitsch) February 28, 2013
Like it or not, the pope is praying for all of you, as are Catholics around the world.
God bless the Pope and may God bless the rest of his life and help all those who lash out and make fun of the Pope God Bless them @Pontifex
— Randy Rasho (@RandyRasho) February 28, 2013
Just read the replies to @Pontifex on Twitter. What a mistake. So many profound haters. Praying for the haters….
— Angelico Press (@AngelicoPress) February 26, 2013
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