10 famous first tweets from the Pope, Barack Obama, the Dalai Lama, and more

(Image credit: AP Photo/Osservatore Roman)

last updated 8 January 2015

A newcomer to social media, Pope Benedict XVI blessed his followers on Twitter for the first time Wednesday, sending out the first tweet from his brand-new account, @Pontifex (Latin for "greatest pontiff").

Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart.— Benedict XVI (@Pontifex) December 12, 2012

In a few short hours, the Pope's initial volley was retweeted 41,000 times and designated a "favorite" tweet nearly 14,000 times. How does his embrace of the technology stack up against the virgin efforts of other big names? Well, let's just say he demonstrates better punctuation skills than Lady Gaga, more modesty than Justin Bieber, less VOLUME than Oprah, and considerably more personality than the Dalai Lama. Here, a brief timeline of famous first tweets:

Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, March 21, 2006:

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just setting up my twttr— Jack Dorsey (@jack) March 21, 2006

Barack Obama, April 20, 2007:

Thinking we're only one signature away from ending the war in Iraq. Learn more at http://www.barackobama.com— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 29, 2007

Lady Gaga, March 26, 2008:

sequin catsuit thats been painted to my tired little bod, post tommy boy party, where I met the incredible dj bob sinclair "world! Hold...— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) March 27, 2008

Mark Zuckerberg, Feb. 13, 2009:

@ooontz I knew you'd be under ditka— Mark Zuckerberg (@finkd) February 13, 2009

Justin Bieber, May 11, 2009:

Check out my single "ONE TIME" on my myspace and spread the word for me.Thankswww.myspace.com/justinbieber— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) May 12, 2009

Oprah, April 17, 2009:

HI TWITTERS . THANK YOU FOR A WARM WELCOME. FEELING REALLY 21st CENTURY .— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) April 17, 2009

Bill Gates, Jan. 19, 2010

"Hello World."Hard at work on my foundation letter - publishing on 1/25.— Bill Gates (@BillGates) January 19, 2010

The Dalai Lama, Feb. 22, 2010:

His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Los Angeles - 21 February 2010 http://bit.ly/cRGXyr— Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama) February 22, 2010

Beyoncé, April 5, 2012:

Hey World, It's B!I'm so excited to invite you to my new beyonce.com - we've been workinghard, and it's finally ready for you XO— Beyoncé Knowles (@Beyonce) April 5, 2012

Chris Gayomali is the science and technology editor for TheWeek.com. Previously, he was a tech reporter at TIME. His work has also appeared in Men's Journal, Esquire, and The Atlantic, among other places. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.