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Global Welcome for Pope Leo XIV on Instagram

May 14, 2025
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Pope Leo XIV has launched official social media accounts on Instagram (@Pontifex – Pope Leo XIV) and X (@Pontifex), marking a significant step in the Vatican’s digital evangelization efforts. The move follows in the footsteps of Pope Francis, whose extensive online presence reached billions.

Pope Leo Twitter and IG Account
Pope Leo Twitter and IG Account

Vatican City – In a groundbreaking move that bridges tradition with modern communication, Pope Leo XIV has officially launched his social media presence through the @Pontifex accounts on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), according to a press release issued Tuesday by the Dicastery for Communication.

The initiative marks a significant continuation of the Vatican’s commitment to digital evangelization, following the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who transformed the papacy’s online engagement.

The first post, shared on Instagram and a day later on X, features a powerful excerpt from Pope Leo XIV’s Urbi et Orbi blessing—his first public address after his election on May 8:

“Peace be with you all! This is the first greeting spoken by the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd. I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, and among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world.”

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Accompanied by evocative imagery from his first days as pontiff, the post struck a chord with millions of followers across the globe, heralding a papacy that intends to be both pastoral and present—not only in the basilicas but also in the digital spaces where so many faithful now dwell.

The Vatican confirmed that the @Pontifex account on X, now led by Pope Leo XIV, reaches over 52 million followers across nine languages, making it one of the most influential religious presences on the internet. On Instagram, his new handle, @Pontifex – Pope Leo XIV, will serve as the sole official papal account under Meta’s platform.

The Dicastery emphasized that the late Pope Francis’ social media legacy will be preserved in a dedicated archive on the Holy See’s institutional website (vatican.va). His @Franciscus account on Instagram will remain accessible as a digital memorial, reflecting on a prolific era that saw nearly 50,000 posts promoting messages of peace, justice, compassion, and care for creation.

In 2020 alone, Pope Francis’ social media content was viewed over 27 billion times, underscoring the growing importance of online outreach in the spiritual lives of modern believers.

By stepping into the social media sphere with a voice both reverent and relevant, Pope Leo XIV signals a pontificate that seeks to engage the world not only through papal visits and encyclicals but also through daily digital presence. Vatican officials note that future posts will include spiritual reflections, global appeals for peace, and moments from his public appearances.

In a world increasingly shaped by pixels and platforms, Pope Leo XIV’s decision to embrace social media is both a strategic and pastoral gesture—extending the Church’s reach from cathedrals to smartphones, and ensuring that the message of the Gospel resounds through the timelines of millions.

As one Vatican insider noted: “The Church has always gone where the people are. Today, the people are online.”

From Tweets to Global Trends: How the Papacy Embraced Social Media in the Digital Age

In an unprecedented move that bridged centuries of tradition with the immediacy of the digital age, Pope Benedict XVI made history on December 12, 2012, by becoming the first pontiff to join social media. At 84 years old, the German-born Pope personally inaugurated the Holy See’s digital presence with a simple yet profound tweet:

“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.”

That 140-character message did more than just mark a technological milestone — it signaled a cultural shift within the Vatican, welcoming the modern world’s preferred channels of communication. The account, then on Twitter, quickly garnered global attention, becoming a spiritual touchstone for millions of Catholics and followers of other faiths alike.

Upon the resignation of Pope Benedict and the subsequent election of Pope Francis as the 266th Bishop of Rome, the papal social media presence not only continued — it flourished. Pope Francis issued his first message through the same Twitter account with characteristic humility:

“Dear friends, I thank you from my heart and ask you to continue to pray for me.”

But Pope Francis did not stop at Twitter. On March 19, 2016 — the Solemnity of St. Joseph — he extended the Vatican’s digital footprint by launching an official Instagram account, @franciscus. His inaugural post featured a solemn image of the pontiff in prayer, captioned in multiple languages: “Pray for me.” The post reflected his pastoral style — direct, humble, and profoundly human.

Now, with the papacy of Pope Leo XIV, the Holy See continues to pioneer its presence in the ever-evolving landscape of online communication. His proactive engagement through various platforms signals the Church’s ongoing commitment to dialogue in the digital era. From livestreamed papal audiences to interactive Q&A sessions, Pope Leo XIV has brought a renewed vitality to the Church’s digital outreach.

His leadership offers a compelling model for dioceses, religious communities, and lay Catholics navigating their own digital witness. In an age often characterized by noise and polarization, the papal social media accounts have become sanctuaries of reflection, compassion, and spiritual encouragement.

What began with a single tweet has become a global ministry — a digital pulpit from which the Popes have extended the reach of the Church’s message to corners of the world once out of reach.

As the Vatican embraces the tools of modern communication, one thing remains unchanged: the papacy’s mission to proclaim the Gospel — now in 280 characters, filtered photos, and, perhaps soon, in the language of the next great platform.