Twitter is buzzing today, as Pope Benedict XVI ‘s new Twitter account has been revealed. The buzz started yesterday, when it was reported that the pope would launch a personal Twitter account.

RT @CNN: Pope to open a personal Twitter account. http://t.co/st4kDc1x — Jim Roberts (@nycjim) December 2, 2012

Where's the Pope? — Bill Hemmer (@BillHemmer) December 3, 2012

Many thought the account would be under the handle @benedictusppxvi, and started following that account in anticipation.

Hours before officially joining @twitter, @BenedictusPPXVI — Pope Benedict XVI — has 10k followers. http://t.co/cHW2Krrd — Luis Velarde (@luivelarde) December 3, 2012

@RichardDawkins The Pope's newborn account @BenedictusPPXVI has 0 tw but already over 10K followers. But whom is he going to follow? — Patrizia Feletig (@citypat1) December 3, 2012

But, the correct account is @Pontifex.

Pope's Twitter handle @Pontifex, first Tweet Dec. 12 will be a Q&A format: http://t.co/O9H4IZaC – VW — The Associated Press (@AP) December 3, 2012

The account’s follower numbers are growing by the second!

The number of people following the Pope is increasing by thousands per second… @Pontifex — Richard Vranch (@richardvranch) December 3, 2012

The Pope hasn't even started Tweeting yet and he already has 11K followers @pontifex — Ryan Evans (@EvansRyan202) December 3, 2012

As for whom the pope is following?

The @pontifex is following 6 versions of himself. The Pope's a Hindu? — The Mad Hatter (@dhruvster) December 3, 2012

"Vatican officials have said they hope that all the fake Pope accounts will stop once the official account has launched." — Helen Lewis (@helenlewis) December 3, 2012

Ah, keeping tabs, perhaps. Alas, The Vatican will soon realize that fake accounts won’t end any time soon. This is Twitter!

Chuck Grassley welcomes Pope Benedict XVI as only he can.

Welcome to Twitter Pope Benedict. U will find it useful and interesting — ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) December 3, 2012

“U.” They are totally buddies!

https://twitter.com/chocolotti/status/275503696626991104

Ugh. Sadly and predictably, that did start.

Memo to self: tweeting about the Pope invites even nastier replies. #twitter — Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) December 3, 2012

Hey Pope, maybe you can start by apologising to everyone. — um diddly idle (@umdiddly) December 3, 2012

Roseanne Barr, of course, joins in the hate.

the pope is just another man in a dress telling women what to do. — Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) December 2, 2012

And others follow vile suit.

Hahaha The Pope Has Twitter Accounts Now Let's Hit This Bitch Up With Some Hate Tweets. — . (@CodyPhillipsss) December 3, 2012

The Pope will fit right in on Twitter. We too have no idea how to responsibly handle allegations of paedophilia. — Tom Freeman (@SnoozeInBrief) December 3, 2012

https://twitter.com/hxxxwl/status/275557699008221184

OMG I can’t wait to fuck with the Pope — jon solo (@HiYourJon) December 3, 2012

@damiancoyle After having had The Smiling Pope and the cuddly-looking John Paul II, they had to go for a Pope who was an unmitigated bastard — Jo Pseudonym (@dismalplaces) December 3, 2012

The pope can fuck right off — GodlessLifter (@3DLifter) December 3, 2012

https://twitter.com/LETSGETBUSY77/status/275526795103703040

The Pope on Twitter….fuck off. #catholicchurch — Essex Boy (@MadeInEssex) December 3, 2012

https://twitter.com/Feeergusss/status/275514184404451328

I don't fuck with the pope kuz the last couple of them liked to fuck with boys — Merel L's Mandrake (@PrinceQLK) December 3, 2012

https://twitter.com/naughty_touch/status/275390765260238849

The pope is on Twitter! Yay now I can let him know how much I hate him! pic.twitter.com/32SpCIlq — Manuel Meschiari (@manukalel) December 3, 2012

https://twitter.com/outlawluv69/status/275558054311911425

Oh, vom. The Pope is about to join us on Twitter. Just what we need: more patriarchal, brainwashing, homophobic shit. — Page 45 (@PageFortyFive) December 3, 2012

The great thing about Ratzinger's twitter is that we can finally report the Pope for abuse. Abuse of boys, human rights & twitter @Pontifex — Oliver Schraylor (@oliverschraylor) December 3, 2012

Pope is going to make a Twitter account and going to make the first tweet himself. Calling it will be "Where's all the choir boys at?" — Daniel (@DJMadCunt) December 3, 2012

https://twitter.com/SimonDyoung/status/275557214914220032

Pope is looking to open a twitter account! Well twitter is probably the best place if he's gonna be looking for young boys — aitchy (@Aitchy94) December 3, 2012

The Pope will need some 14 year old boys to sort out his #Twitter glitches….oh wait — Sukus Spookus (@Sukyspook) December 3, 2012

Pope will probably DM all the little boys on twitter — El Indio (@_ItzRozay) December 3, 2012

The Pope is getting his own twitter handle? Hide your little boys and call Chris Hansen! — Dugless206 (@Dugless206) December 3, 2012

Molesting 3-year old boys just like that paedophile Faggot pope Benedict XVI does #leaveitin2012 — The Bible Lied (@antibible_t) December 3, 2012

@AaronmN7 The Pope is getting Twitter today. Another way to follow little boys I suppose. — Laura Muse (@LauraMuse_) December 3, 2012

Sick.

Will the Pope be able to fit all that gay hate into 140 characters or will there be space for an attack on condoms and women — Darren (@DarnEther) December 3, 2012

Really? This coming from people who gay-bait and bash constantly. And lady parts peddling, of course: See, the pope totally hates women, what with all that trying to protect them from being killed in the womb. Monster! Another thing that the haters don’t understand; the pope loves them, no matter what they say or do, and always will.

Haters, heal thyselves.