Surprise! Obama statement on Pope Benedict XVI mentions ‘I’ four times

http://twitter.com/#!/whpresscorps/status/300952441690660870

Zing! Twitter predicted that President Obama’s statement on the news that Pope Benedict XVI will be stepping down at the end of the month would be self-focused.

Obama’s aides frantically explaining to him he’s not the Pope and he shouldn’t reassure public that he’s not resigning.

— El SOOPer!! (@SooperMexican) February 11, 2013

Has Obama made the Pope’s resignation about him yet?

— JWF (D) (@JammieWF) February 11, 2013

He was late, but he did it!

Took him long enough. RT @usatoday: Obama praises Pope Benedict XVI usat.ly/UZ1KdV

— Melissa Clouthier (@MelissaTweets) February 11, 2013

Obama: The Church plays a critical role in the US & the world, & I wish the best to those who will gather to choose [the pope’s] successor.

— Sarah Pulliam Bailey (@spulliam) February 11, 2013

President Obama extends his prayers to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. The president says he will warmly remember their visit in 2009.

— Cynthia Izaguirre (@wfaaizzy) February 11, 2013

RT @huffpostpol: Obama’s statement on the Pope’s resignation twitter.com/HuffPostPol/st…

— Yanina (@catrachingos) February 11, 2013

His full statement:

Statement by the President on His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

On behalf of Americans everywhere, Michelle and I wish to extend our appreciation and prayers to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. Michelle and I warmly remember our meeting with the Holy Father in 2009, and I have appreciated our work together over these last four years. The Church plays a critical role in the United States and the world, and I wish the best to those who will soon gather to choose His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI’s successor.

On-the-ball Twitter users notice a few things.

Refresh my memory RT @huffingtonpost: “I have appreciated our work together over these last four years” -Obama, on the Pope’s resignation

— Denisse (@denisssegiron) February 11, 2013

Written like they’re colleagues. “@dailycaller: Obama release statement on Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation – bit.ly/X0cx5w”

— Lisa De Pasquale (@LisaDeP) February 11, 2013

Breaking: In rare show of self-restraint, 3-sentence presidential statement on Pope only uses the pronoun “I” 4 times – bit.ly/14O29QQ

— Josh Painter (@Josh_Painter) February 11, 2013

Wait, what exactly has Obama and Pope Benedict “worked together” on?I don’t remember any joint initiatives.

— Tim(@AspiringThrawn) February 11, 2013

Surprise! All about Obama. –> Obama on the Pope: ‘I Have Appreciated Our Work Together Over These Last Four Years’ shar.es/YGK9L

— John Ekdahl, Jr. (@JohnEkdahl) February 11, 2013

Obama praises Pope. Now, back to regularly-scheduled programming oftrampling religious liberty, forcing taxpayers to pay for abortions etc