How popular is Facebook? The Vatican this week has taken the social networking website beyond the grave, setting up a Posthumous account for Pope John Paul II.

The deceased pope is set to be beatified on May 1 and the Vatican in anticipation of that event has posted various video highlights, photos and other information from the pontiffs 27 years as the top official for the Catholic church.

It’s the first time the Vatican has tried to evangelize a member of the church using social media.

A Vatican official told the AP:

“What we found is that Facebook doesn’t just share information, it creates community,” while adding, “People begin talking to each other and sharing ideas.” [Read more…]