The internet is all abuzz with the news that Pope Benedict XVI has started a personal Twitter account (@Pontifex) which has garnered nearly 500,000 followers without posting a single tweet.  One popular topic of discussion is cropping up in the social media buzz.  Will the Pope’s Twitter account be “infallible”?

The short answer is no.  Contrary to popular belief, only certain statements by the Pope are considered “infallible” – protected by God from error – and only when the Pope speaks “Ex Cathedra”, in an official capacity which literally translates to “from the Chair of Peter”.

There were many other conversations sparked across social media by the Pope’s decision to join the Twitosphere, and many of them quite negative according to this Twitter aggregator.

However the most interesting aspect of the Pontiff’s addition to Twitter is the speed at which his followers are growing.  In just a few short days, without any interaction or tweets from His Holiness, @Pontifex (Latin for Pontiff) already has about 500,000 followers.  Considering the sheer number of Catholics in the world – 1.15 billion – 500,000 could be considered small potatoes in the grand scheme of things.

In the social media world 500,000 is no small achievement.  There are 119 million Twitter accounts and @Pontifex ranks #2,765 for most followers after only 3 days in existence according to Twittercounter.com.  It will be interesting to watch the rise of the Pope on Twitter.  Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber might have a new competitor on their hands for most followers in the future if the trend continues.  The Pope’s first Tweet will be sent on December 12, so we’ll keep you posted on what effect becoming active will have on his Twitter stats.